The Trust for Governors Island (TGI) has started a US$64 million reconstruction of Yankee Pier and Lima Pier on Governors Island in New York, the organisation confirmed on Wednesday, October 21.
The City of New York is funding the project. Yankee Pier's ferry landing capacity will be doubled, and Lima Pier will become an additional dedicated access point for logistics and emergency operations.
Both piers are approximately 60 years old and were originally built for US Coast Guard operations. Preparation for demolition is scheduled to begin this month.
TGI said the island's annual visitor total is nearly one million, and ferries are its sole public transport connection.
Yankee Pier’s reconstruction will include a wider rectangular deck with space for passengers to queue for up to four ferry routes. A floating landing will also serve a broader range of vessels.
The pier will be raised to an elevation of 11 feet (3.4 metres), improving its resistance to flooding and severe weather.
"This investment gives the island a ferry gateway built for the year-round destination it has become, with room to welcome more routes and more New Yorkers in the years ahead," said TGI President and CEO Clare Newman.
Lima Pier will receive goods and services, as well as construction materials, including materials for historic building rehabilitation and park improvements. It will also provide emergency access and mooring for the trust's own vessel fleet.
Indigo River is prime consultant and lead engineer. Its scope includes vessel berthing and Ro-Ro operations for construction and other heavy equipment.
From November 2, NYC Ferry services will move from Yankee Pier to Pier 101 on the island's north side. TGI's seasonal Brooklyn ferry service will also use Pier 101 during construction.
Passenger services at Soissons Landing will continue.
Coordination of the works involved the US Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Seasonal restrictions to protect fish and other marine life will apply to in-water construction.
