Lighthouse and Breakwall Scoured By Waves
By Sue Clark on Mar 25, 2008 in News 
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Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse Surveyed For Damage
The current Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse has been sitting atop the breakwall at the entrance to Delaware Bay since 1926. But part of its foundation is the 1901 National Harbor of Refuge Breakwater, which has taken a pounding from the northeast gales it’s designed to stop. Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers began surveying the current state of damage to the breakwall and lighthouse using side scan sonar imaging technology. This survey is the first step in repairing the damage caused by the years of waves scouring the base. The lighthouse was built in 1926 to replace the storm damaged original building. The 52 foot original tower was dismantled and removed after it became unusable after taking its own poundings from storms.
Extent of Damage
A huge hole located at the southwest corner of the lighthouse was originally discovered in the 1930s, and a few years ago, it was found to have grown to about 120 feet in depth. There are also voids under the lighthouse’s protective concrete ring, and areas where the structure’s foundation has actually deteriorated, according to the initial report released by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Army Corps engineer and Project Manager Charlie Myers said side-scan sonar imaging has also been used to provide a full picture of the breakwater’s underwater condition, obtain views of the riverbed and see where capstones have been dislodged by wave action. “Some of those stones weigh 10 to 12 tons, and they’ve been knocked off. Our initial survey, done several years ago, detected some of the stones laying at the base of the breakwater structure,” he stated in the story in the Cape Gazette.
Meyers said the most recent data captured, but not yet analyzed, would yield the most accurate information about the hole. “Our hope is that the hole has not migrated, has not gotten any deeper and is having no direct impact on the structurally stability of the breakwater” he said. “We’ll be able to figure out how much concrete would be needed to fill the voids, and we’ll also be able to figure out how many rows of protective stone would be needed if we decided to use that repair method.”
Repair Work Scheduled
According to Meyers, if everything goes according to schedule, work could get started before the end of the fiscal year in September. Protection of the concrete ring could involve using a double-layer of stone with each stone weighing 8 to 12 tons. Concrete would be used to help fill the voids, and this recent survey should provide the Corps with the data needed to figure out how much will be needed. It should also help to provide an estimate on the number of stones required if it’s decided to go that route for repairs. So far, the Corps has received $343,000 to investigate conditions of the breakwater and lighthouse but there is no estimate on the cost of the repairs.
With the recent budget proposed for Fiscal Year 2009, let’s hope funding for this project will be forthcoming.
Photo Credit: Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse by mmahaffie. Some rights reserved.
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