By Mark Squibb
The new year will bring a new breakwater to the people living on the Lower Coast of Trepassey.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Mayor Wanda Waddleton. “The residents of Lower Coast have been living in fear when we have storms, because the road gets blocked off, and it’s blocked off for five, six, or seven hours… When we have high waves and winds, what comes in over that breakwater would frighten you.”
Newly minted Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure Barry Petten, along with Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, announced back in November that government would soon be tendering major repairs to the breakwater, with the intention of starting construction in the fall.
That tender has since been awarded to Rock Construction Company Ltd., in the amount of $1.6 million, and construction is expected to begin in January.
RJG Construction, Southern Construction Ltd., Farrell’s Excavating Ltd. and Coady Construction & Excavating Ltd., submitted bids in the amounts of $1.8 million, $2.2 million, $2.6 million, and $2.8 million, respectively.
Project estimates at the time of the announcement hovered around the million-dollar mark.
The announcement came on the heels of a major storm which caused significant damage to the breakwater, which was already awaiting repairs for damage incurred back in 2024.
Waddleton said residents felt ‘forgotten’ by the previous administration, and that she’s glad to finally see the project moving forward.
“They’re going to put in new armour stone, fix the seawall, and put in cribbing to support the seawall to help save the road and infrastructure going down to the Lower Coast,” said Waddleton. “This is what we wanted done in the first place.”
