Clarington Council has awarded the contract to reconstruct the Port Darlington Boat Launch and parking lot in Bowmanville. It is projected to be ready by end-September.
While the Bowmanville boat launch is closed for repair, a free public boat launch is open at Bond Head Parkette, at 5 Boulton Street, in Newcastle. There is also a provincial boat launch in Darlington Provincial Park and a private boat launch at the Port of Newcastle Marina, said a municipal notice.
The successful project bid came in on budget at about $500,000. Last summer, the repair work was delayed when bids came in $460,000 higher than expected due to inflationary pressures throughout the industry, it said.
The boat launch reconstruction will begin once the in-water works window opens at the beginning of July, as per regulatory restrictions. Reconstruction of the Port Darlington Boat Launch is expected to start in early July and has a contract completion date of September 28 (depending on weather and other factors).
The work includes the reconstruction of the boat launch, a new staircase from the parking lot to the ramp, reconstruction of the parking lot, repairing the grading transition on a segment of the Waterfront Trail, and landscaping improvements.
Any mention of if the launch will remain free? Very few free launches remain on lake ontario