Marine Bay View Petoskey

PROTECTING HISTORICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Formed in 1875, the Bay View Association in Petoskey became part of the Chautauqua Movement in the United States committed to bringing the four programs of Religion, Recreation, Education and Performing Arts to the public.  Sailing was a cornerstone of the recreation at Bay View since the beginning. When their historical sail house was in danger of succumbing to the force of Lake Michigan’s rising water levels, something needed to be done to protect the building and ensure the tradition continued well into the future.  

INSIDE THE PROJECT

Durocher Marine was selected as the low bidder and worked with the Owner and Engineer for over a year to present solutions and reduce cost while tackling the ever-rising water levels of the lake. The final design was settled on and the Durocher team went to work preparing to construct a 150-ft long sheet pile and stone breakwater extension to the existing pier.  Sheet pile and stone materials were stockpiled and loaded onto barges at the Durocher Marine yard in Cheboygan and towed 75 miles to the project location. The project site was fully exposed to the prevailing winds of the region presenting a challenge to constructing a new breakwater out into the lake.  Scheduling and sequencing were critical to ensure that work in place was secure enough to handle the high waves that can come up at a moment’s notice.  Another challenge was the project started in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kokosing’s commitment to safety provided the guidance and resources to ensure that every team member stayed safe and went home every day in the same condition as when they arrived.  

WHY IT MATTERS

The cyclical nature of water levels in the Great Lakes present challenges to infrastructure during both high and low periods.  Fighting back against mother nature is never easy. The extensive knowledge of marine construction that has been passed on for generations at Durocher Marine is critical to providing unique and cost-effective solutions to the wide range of challenges the interface between land and water present.