National Coast Guard Museum second phase set to go to bid
Jun. 3—NEW LONDON — The footprint of the future National Coast Guard Museum has taken shape on the city's waterfront and the stage is now set for the second phase of the $150 million project.
The National Coast Guard Museum Association announced last week it is ready to go to bid this week on the work to create the foundation for the more than 80,000-square-foot, six-story museum that will occupy a prominent place on the city's waterfront.
"Moving into summer of 2023, we are thrilled to be launching this next phase of construction. It is an exciting and significant milestone for us as we build the museum's foundation," retired Coast Guard Captain Wes Raymond Pulver, president of the National Coast Guard Museum Association, said.
The museum site is situated behind Union Station and nestled between City Pier and the Cross Sound Ferry's busy ferry terminal. The 295-foot-long U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle, known as America's Tall Ship, has secured a berth adjacent to the museum.
Completed work on the first phase of the museum project included dismantling of a portion of City Pier and installation of a bulkhead wall to create land where there was once water.
The upcoming work will include the installation of about 240 micropiles, essentially rods that will be drilled into the ground and into the bedrock below to provide the structural stability needed to support the building, said retired Coast Guard Capt. Mark Walsh, chief operating officer for the National Coast Guard Museum Association.
Walsh and Pulver walked the grounds of the construction site last week, pointing to where a pedestrian walking bridge will span the railroad tracks and Water Street to connect with the third floor of the city's parking garage. The state has pledged $20 million for construction of the 400-foot bridge. The city continues to seek sources for $25 million needed to expand the parking garage and help accommodate what museum association officials estimate will be 300,000 visitors a year to the city.
The bridge will have landings in front of the train station, between the tracks and at the entrance to the museum. The bridge has the added benefit of providing safe passage across the street for customers of Cross Sound Ferry, Pulver said.
Pulver expects this next stage of construction to start this summer and take about six months to complete. He said the goal is to get "out-of-the-ground construction" started next year and barring any major hurdles have both the bridge and museum completed by 2025.
New London Mayor Michael Passero said that by the time the ribbon cutting for the museum takes place, the city will be in a position to highlight downtown revitalization efforts that will include renovation and adaptive reuse of several historic downtown buildings.
Of the ongoing construction of the museum, Passero said the city has had no complaints. Work on the museum project is overseen by A/Z Corporation based in North Stonington.
"They were sensitive to our needs and have been incredibly cooperative with the city and really taken care of us well," Passero said.
Passero said installation of the micropiles will be done by drilling and not pounding, which will help protect surrounding buildings from any damage from vibrations.
"And we won't be listening to pounding all summer," Passero said.
Pulver said private fundraising for the museum has steadily progressed to $42 million of the $50 million goal. He credits the city, Cross Sound Ferry, the Coleman family, who owns Union Station, and legislators for support in helping to make the museum become a reality.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, helped to secure $50 million for the museum, increasing the total federal contribution to $70 million. The Coast Guard remains the only branch of the armed services without a national museum.
U.S. Rep Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said the progression of the construction and fundraising is heartening after so many years of anticipation. The federal funding, he said, has "turbocharged the private fundraising."
"This thing has really picked up speed in terms of dirt flying around but also the financial contributions," Courtney said. "Getting this next stage out to bid is a strong statement of confidence that this is now a completely funded and executable project which has not always been the case," Courtney said.
For information on the future exhibits inside the museum, which will include a full-sized HH-60 Jayhawk search and rescue helicopter, visit: www.coastguardmuseum.org.
