On the Waterfront by June A. Osterberg, 8-22-14

OFFICIAL BCNA NEWS

Poor old Piers 30-32, two converted, pile-supported finger piers on the waterfront, were one of the significant subjects on the Port Commission’s August 12th agenda because of their age and condition.

Commission President Leslie Katz had called for an informed estimate of repair costs “as is” and what the cost impact might be if alternative uses for the 13-acre Port property were chosen for the unusual piers located just south of the Bay Bridge. The task of obtaining the information went to the Port’s Engineering Division.

Let’s get right to the report’s could-have-been-worse Conclusion:

“Piers 30-32 are a valuable Port asset, currently used for lay-berthing, automobile parking, limited special events, and back-up cruise terminal. Staff recommends continuing these uses and also recommends looking at other interim uses on a case-by-case basis.

“Staff estimates the remaining useful life of the Piers at approximately 10 years, assuming no substructure repairs are executed. At this time, Staff estimates it would cost approximately $44 million in substructure repairs to address deferred maintenance, which would extend the Piers’ useful life by approximately 50 years.”

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

The staff engineers’ report added elsewhere that “the Piers have survived beyond their useful design life – estimated at 50 years for these types of structures. Because of the unpredictable nature of deterioration in their current condition, it is not possible to either definitively predict the remaining useful life of the piers or establish a realistic annual maintenance.”

“During this period and beyond, the Piers are expected to suffer localized failures at random points throughout… When such failures occur, Port engineers will reassess the Piers and likely barricade the failed areas, taking them out of use”… “The Piers also may suffer serious damage during a moderate to major seismic event. The overall probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake in the Greater Bay Area is 63% within the next 30 years.”

As if that weren’t enough, just before the Conclusion was another daunting statement under the title Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise: “With rising sea level, the Piers are expected to suffer frequent flooding beyond 2070.”

Structural Engineer Joe Roger prepared the report for Chief Harbor Engineer Eunejune Kim. No one in the Engineering Division said the obvious to the Port Commission: “Well, you asked.”

Not All Bad News

Not mentioned in the report is the sometimes stated understanding amongst savvy waterfront fans and others – that it would cost roughly $44 million to demolish the piers, and how much more to build a new structure? In that respect, the report is rather encouraging, one would think.

That is supported by this statement in the report:

“Completion of a comprehensive pier substructure repair will allow continuation of the Piers’ current uses … and will extend the Piers’ estimated useful life by approximately 50 years.

“Because of the presence of salt water and the porous nature of concrete, the areas of the Piers that had not previously exhibited damage may manifest corrosion damage over the ensuing years and may require maintenance repairs in the future. At such time, Port staff will make an analysis whether funding isolated repairs is beneficial to the Piers and their usage.”

Other Possibilities for the Piers

The engineers explored other possibilities, including a public park, a sports field, temporary uses such as Teatro ZinZanni and Cirque Soleil. Also investigated was construction of a major marine research institute, “as recommended by the Civil Grand Jury.” Each had its down side. They would require seismic expense or, in the case of live performances, could be leased only for six months or less.

The Piers did provide usage for the racing teams that showed up for America’s Cup 34 in 2013. The Port spent some $1.9 million to repair isolated sections of the Marginal Wharf adjacent to Piers 30-32 for those repairs. “Prior to this project the Port had made no significant structural repairs/improvements to the Piers’ substructure since 1950,” according to the report.

Bottom Line

The Piers’ immediate future is connected to the return of Fleet Week October 9-13 and the arrival on the waterfront of the Navy’s newest warship – for christening.

Hey, Port people, Good Luck with finding funding.