Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp construction continues

Roughly half of planned work is already completed; port district anticipates opening in summer.

SAN DIEGO — Construction on San Diego’s Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp will continue through March and beyond, despite the port district’s original plans to have the popular boating venue open this month.

A recent update by the Port of San Diego stated pile-driving activities at the boat launch ramp construction site is expected to continue until the end of March.

Construction was delayed due to “an unforeseen element,” according to port district staff.

“During the excavation of the previous jetties, underground debris such as concrete and other pre-existing construction debris [were] discovered. This was an unforeseen element and removing the debris has unfortunately led to delays in the construction schedule,” port district staff stated in its January update of boat launch ramp construction.

Port of San Diego officials originally predicted the boat launch ramp would be open to the boating public in March, roughly eight or nine months after construction started. Now it appears construction work will continue through the summer, meaning the Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp would have been closed for a full calendar year.

Pile driving activity began on Feb. 9; port district staff announced in January the boat launch ramp revitalization was roughly 50 percent complete but behind schedule.

“Efforts are being made to [minimize] delays in reopening,” port district staff stated in January.

The 10-lane launch ramp, one of the busiest in the country, has been closed, in entirety, for several months now. Port district staff hoped the launch ramp would be re-opened in time for the 2018 boating season, though it certainly looks like it would remain closed for the remainder of winter and all of spring.

An update on the port district’s website about the Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp stated the boating venue would re-open in the summer, though no official open date was announced.

The port district, armed with a $9.6 million in grant funding, began work on modernizing Shelter Island’s boat launch ramp in July 2017. ADA compliant docks, a larger maneuvering area, public walking platforms and updated signage were among the new amenities of the soon-to-be-revitalized launch ramp.

Grant funding came from state resources – Division of Boating and Waterways, California Wildlife Conservation Board – and, accordingly, required the port district to begin the redevelopment of the boat launch ramp by May 2017, just ahead of the venue’s peak traffic and usage.

Work continuing through the upcoming spring and summer seasons likely means San Diego’s trailer boaters will have to access the harbor or ocean from other locations during one of the busiest stretches of the year.

Construction crews have already demolished the previous launch ramp in entirety. New piles are currently being installed. Port district staff added preparations are being made to install the new concrete launch ramp.

Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp was built in the 1950s and later updated in 1976 and 2005. The ramp reportedly services about 50,000 launches annually.

Other boat launch ramps available to the boating public are at Chula Vista Harbor, National City’s Pepper Park, Oceanside Harbor and five locations within San Diego’s Mission Bay.

Questions and concerns about the Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp can be directed to the port district via email at sibl@portofsandiego.org.

Visit portofsandiego.org/sibl for more information about the renovation project and the latest updates.

6 thoughts on “Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp construction continues

  • March 8, 2018 at 12:55 pm
    Permalink

    This will cause more people to just sell their boats as my fishing partner has decided it was too much hassle to go to J street marina in order to launch his 23ft fishing boat. I quit using my boat when San Vincente dam project hit and was constantly delayed. Why have a boat if you can’t even get on the water?

    Reply
    • April 7, 2018 at 4:55 pm
      Permalink

      You can launch at Glorietta Bay right next to Coronado Bridge.

      Reply
  • March 8, 2018 at 1:29 pm
    Permalink

    This is beyond absurd! The SDUPD in their infinite wisdom starts this project during the prime boating season, and drags it on for OVER A YEAR?! What a horribly mismanaged project! They had to deal with “underground debris such as concrete and other pre-existing construction debris” while they were removing exactly the same debris??? And we accept this? Imagine a project like this occuring in the private sector, do you think for a moment that any corporation worth their salt would allow a project to drag on like the Port has allowed this one to? It is criminal that absolutely no measures were taken to protect the numerous businesses that have been negatively impacted by this boondoggle. One of the busiest launch ramps in the country, taken completely off-line, with thousands of persons negatively impacted, and the SDUPD says “Efforts are being made to [minimize] delays in reopening,”. What poppycock. What a travesty. Shame on the SDUPD! Recreational boating is a $ 10 Billion annual contributor to California’s economy, and bureaucrats continue to show little regard for it.
    See the post above, from Lonie Piel to see what I mean!

    Reply
    • June 14, 2018 at 8:18 pm
      Permalink

      I’ve emailed them before too. The real problem is that they didn’t expect this, and now if this ramp isn’t perfect we are all going to be upset. And really who can blame us? If you couldn’t predictably manage the time in this day and age, you should be fired or at least black listed as not to be trusted or given projects in the future. And if you couldn’t manage the time, we are pretty sure this repair will not be adequate because you already have proven, you don’t know what you’re doing.

      Reply
  • May 2, 2018 at 4:19 pm
    Permalink

    remove the 5mph speed limit in south bay to make access to the bay quicker from j street ramp

    Reply
  • September 10, 2018 at 12:12 pm
    Permalink

    What is the status of the Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp project. Is it ready to use? Please advise. Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to phil levy Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *