Concrete section of Piermont Pier closed, fear of collapse

“In the interest of public safety, we regret that the entire cement portion of the pier will be blocked off to pedestrians until further notice,” according to a notice from the village.
“We got this thing and we were like, ‘Oh my God!’ Let’s just stop it at the end of the blacktop and don’t let anyone near it,” Piermont Mayor Bruce Tucker said.

PIERMONT ‒ Anyone wanting to take a Thanksgiving Day stroll to the end of the Piermont Pier found it closed, with a “Do Not Enter” sign blocking the concrete portion of the path.

The damaged portion was built at the end of the historic pier in the 1950s. The brackish waters of the Hudson caused damage that could destabilize it, according to a report from an engineering firm hired by the village.

“In the interest of public safety, we regret that the entire cement portion of the pier will be blocked off to pedestrians until further notice,” according to a notice from the village.

BlueShore Engineering reported Nov. 26 that deterioration had progressed significantly in the cement portion since the previous inspection. “Many areas are at imminent risk of failure,” the company correspondence states.

“The pier is still open for recreation, it’s just the very end,” Piermont Mayor Bruce Tucker said Friday.

“The reinforcement has completely disappeared”

The concrete portion of the pier was last checked by BlueShore Engineering seven years ago. A new evaluation, in five to eight years, was then recommended.

The Piermont Village Volunteer Fire Department dive team recently took measurements of the pilings and sent them to BlueShore Engineering.

According to the report, the estuary’s cross current could cause ice floes, logs or similar debris to float in the current down or up the river and come into contact with a broken pile. This could lead to overloading of adjacent piles and cause progressive collapse of the concrete, “because the reinforcements have completely disappeared”.

Tucker said the village received the report Tuesday evening. “As of Wednesday morning, DPW removed the barrier,” he said.

BlueShore advised the village that an on-site repair would be possible but costly.

The company’s takeaway: It would be cheaper to do a complete demolition and replace the section.

Impact of blocked access to the pier

The pier is primarily used for recreation, from fishing to walking, running and cycling.

The Sloop Clearwater, run by the environmental organization of the same name, docks several times a year to provide lessons. In 2021, a cruise line asked the village for permission to dock there for its Hudson River tours, but the village’s consultant then said the ship was too large for the pier to accommodate.

Tucker said many activities can still take place, but not on the short concrete path and plaza at the far end.

Tucker said the conditions, documented by Piermont firefighters, triggered alarms, Tucker said. “We got this thing and we were like, ‘Oh my God!’ Let’s just stop it at the end of the blacktop and don’t let anyone get close.”

Tucker said the concrete portion, added in the 1950s, sits on pilings. The rest of the pier, which is solid, was built on bedrock a century earlier.

“Similar wear and tear was seen on the old Tappan Zee Bridge,” which was opened in 1955 and replaced in 2017, Tucker said of the concrete portion of the pier. “They were built at the same time.”

Can this be repaired? At what price?

No price estimate has been made available for a repair or replacement.

Tucker said he thinks it could be in the millions.

Federal officials, including U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, and U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, Republican of Pearl River, have been connected, Tucker said. The village council was working on obtaining quotes to replace the concrete part, which includes seeking grants.

“We’re going to need a lot of money here,” Tucker said. “If anyone has money, we’d be happy to talk to them.”

Pier’s story

Built by the Erie Railroad beginning in 1838, with tracks extending to the end of the mile-long pier, the Piermont Pier played a key role in local and American history.

The Erie Railroad, opened in 1851, was the longest railroad in the world. People took the ferry to take the train to Lake Erie.

The railway also served the village paper mill, opened in 1902.

During World War II, the pier was the embarkation point for thousands of soldiers heading to Europe from nearby Camp Shanks.

The railway tracks were later removed.

The paper mill closed in 1982 and the pier was converted to recreational use some time later.