Crisfield, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Wednesday that the Somers Cove Marina would be receiving an approximately $30 million renovation project, which is expected to benefit the city through several avenues.
DNR said the project has been put together in partnership with the Maryland Department of General Services and Maryland Department of Transportation. Officials said the project is in the mobilization stage currently, as they waited for the conclusion of the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake to avoid disruption.
The project is set to replace the marina’s boat ramp, turn eight of the marina’s 15 piers into floating pier systems, and construct 2,000 feet of new bulkhead. Other changes include the construction of five tide gates within a new storm drain system to prevent tidal flooding on the marina and surrounding properties.
DNR said it’s been planning the project for several years, as the marina had begun to show its age in recent years.
“DNR took over the facility in 1980, and this is the first major renovation we’ve undertaken since that time. So, we have a lot of work to do to update the marina and make it appealing for modern boaters,” said Eric Luedtke, director of capital projects at DNR.
Luedtke added that updates can benefit the city and state at large economically.
“Recreational boating in the state of Maryland is a $4.2 billion industry. It’s a cornerstone of our state’s outdoor recreation industry. And Somers Cove is a key part of that because so many transient boaters that come from elsewhere along the East Coast into the Chesapeake Bay, they stop at Somers Cove. And that’s important for the city of Crisfield because the people that stop there spend money there, which is good for the economy locally,” Luedtke said.
The City of Crisfield welcomed the news in a press release from DNR.
““The City of Crisfield is extremely grateful for this major investment in both the economic vitality and resilient infrastructure of our community,” said Crisfield Mayor Darlene Taylor. “The marina is a staple in Crisfield and a key component of our flood mitigation strategy. It serves as an economic driver and a conduit for the major flooding that continues to plague our city. These planned infrastructure upgrades will make a significant difference in the everyday lives of our citizens by reducing the duration and intensity of flooding in many areas of our community. This is truly a big deal for Crisfield.”
Luedtke said the project is projected to take 24 months, but residents won’t face significant daily disruption from the construction process.
“They (residents) may see some more construction traffic coming in and out. But most of the construction is occurring within the footprint of Somers Cove Marina itself and won’t really impact the neighbors too much,” Luedtke said.
