COUPEVILLE: Wharf opens new dock
Allyson Ballard reports from the Port of Coupeville for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity AI
Coupeville’s historic wharf has completed its final major rehabilitation project with the installation of a new open-water dock, replacing one badly damaged in a December windstorm. Port of Coupeville Executive Director Chris Michalopoulos, who plans to retire this spring after more than eight years, said the project caps roughly $2.8 to $3 million of wharf upgrades, including seismic stabilization and building refurbishment. The new dock cost about $600,000 from the Industrial Development District fund and is designed to last 50 to 60 years while better withstanding storms. Installation took four days and used vibratory pile driving monitored by marine biologists to reduce noise impacts on marine life.
They Said It
Chris Michalopoulos, the Port of Coupeville’s executive director, said it feels “amazing” to be finished with the dock’s replacement, the latest — and last — major rehabilitation project undergone by the wharf.
“It’s a wonderful way to finish out a career,” he added.
Michalopoulos said the new dock is “built for longevity,” particularly in its ability to withstand the weather, and could last the wharf for the next 50 to 60 years.
