MATTAPOISETT – The town received four bids for design and engineering to fix multiple problems on Long Wharf and will pass the bids on to members of the Marine Advisory Committee and the harbormaster for review. 

The town had put out a request for proposals to evaluate the conditions at Long Wharf, design construction documents and for construction onsite services.

The timber pillars that underlie Long Wharf are decaying, which is causing sinkholes in the parking lot and could eventually compromise the integrity of the wharf as a whole.

Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said at a Dec. 28 Select Board meeting that each of the companies that responded to the request for proposals took “a broad assessment of what they thought was necessary” for the project. As a result, the prices for the engineering and design work ranged from $257,000 to about $390,000. 

The town currently has around $270,000 for the initial phase of the project, a combination of town funds and a grant from the Seaport Economic Council. 

Selectman Tyler Macallister said that the group that reviews the bids should take a harder look at the lower bid to make sure that essential items were covered in that company’s plan for the project. 

The designated representatives will take a look at each of the proposals and craft a summary to present to the Select Board. The board will look to respond to the bids by the end of January. 

Construction on Long Wharf is not likely to occur for around three years, as the town will need to define the scope of the project and apply for additional grants. There will be multiple public hearings for Mattapoisett residents to weigh in on the board’s decisions.