Macmillan Pier Reconstruction Provincetown, MA

MacMillan Pier is a multi-use municipal pier owned by the Town of Provincetown, MA. The existing pier was constructed in 1956 and extended about 387 meters (1270 feet) out from the shore with a 69 meter (227 foot) long T-section on the seaward end. It consisted of a reinforced concrete deck slab and stringer system supported on timber pile bents. The existing pier was in poor condition with posted load restrictions that prevented access to the pier for a variety of truck sizes. A single narrow sidewalk limited the safety and maneuverability of pedestrians when whale watch and excursion boats loaded and unloaded large numbers of passengers. In 1998, the Town selected Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Engineers for planning, design, environmental permitting and construction phase services for the reconstruction of the pier. The resulting final design provided for a new concrete pier supported on steel pipe piles. The new pier would be essentially in the same footprint as the existing pier, except that the 288 meter (945 foot) long approach section was widened from 10.5 meters (34.6 feet) to 17 meters (56 feet) and the Tee section was lengthened from 69 meters (227 feet) to 114 meters (375 feet) and widened from 15 to 18 meters (50 to 60 feet). A small boat floating dock facility was added on the east side of the approach pier and a steel floating dock with ADA compliant ramps was provided at the west end of the Tee section. The construction contract was awarded in November 2000 for $15,580,000. The construction work was phased so that the existing pier activities could be maintained throughout the two and a half year construction period. The construction work was substantially completed by June 2003.