By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — After a series of setbacks, the Ashley Ferry boat ramp replacement project is expected to be completed by mid-September.
“Due to silt buildup at the ramp, there were minor setbacks last month,” Claremont City Manager Yoshi Manale told the city council at their Aug. 28 meeting. “However, the New Hampshire Fish and Game is still working on access to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramp. The main ramp is complete.”
The ramp that is being replaced had been there since 1998, and N.H. Fish and Game Statewide Public Boat Access Program Coordinator Garret Graaskamp said that this is a “major repair” with improvements that have been needed for a long time. Parts of the ramp were falling into the channel.
This project costs about $500,000 with 75% funded with federal Sport Fish Restoration money. Remaining costs are covered by the N.H. Statewide Public Boat Access Fund, which comes from the $5 surcharge when people register their boats.
The original ramp was replaced in June with a double-wide slab of concrete. A platform in the parking lot is being added to make it accessible for people in wheelchairs when loading their boats into the water.
In July, Graaskamp gave an update on the project and the delays that were caused by powerful weather events that swept through the city. This included high winds and heavy rain and led to the goal of being late August to have the ramp and platform completed. Manale’s most recent update pushed the timeline into September.
Manale said that the excavation and footing for the ADA ramp is nearly complete, and paving will follow. Once the final paving is finished, the ramp will be open to the public 30 days following the final paving. There will be line striping to complete the project, as well.
