Fishing piers to be built

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DIAMOND BLUFF — Two piers will be built at Diamond Bluff’s Sea Wing Park.

The town board has awarded a contract for the project to Fitzgerald Excavating of Goodhue at $44,405, according to information from TEC Design Inc. of Eau Claire, Wis.

The two 30-foot long by 10-foot wide piers will be made of rock, all limestone, Fred Haverlandt said. The tops will be blacktopped later, after a suitable period of compaction.

“We need to protect the sand on the beach,” he said regarding the location along the Mississippi River and arrangements. A lot of water wave action is common at the site.

There will be a significant gap between the piers off the park, which is across from the town hall.

The bid was the lowest of seven received and the amount was below TEC Design’s estimate of approximately $60,000.

Haverlandt thought the grant would cover the construction expense, though probably not all of the engineering costs. Volunteers have already cleared quite a few trees from the vicinity in preparation for the project, Haverlandt said.

People go fishing regularly at the park, catching varieties including sheephead, catfish, carp, walleye, bass and red horse suckers. He described the fishing as “pretty good” from the shore, and was pleased that those who don’t have boats will soon be able to take advantage of the piers.

Haverlandt said local officials are also working on a stormwater runoff replacement project in an area of the park.

Tags: minnesota outdoors, fishing, piers, diamond, bluff