The Department of Recreation & Parks of Wicomico County, Maryland, sought the assistance of Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. (DBF), to upgrade the existing 2-lane boat ramp located off Riverside Drive in Salisbury, Maryland.

DBF was selected to provide professional surveying, engineering, and construction administration services for the project. Permits were obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of Environment for the proposed improvements. Local stakeholders were consulted to provide comments on limited mobility access and handicap accessibility to the boat ramp.

The new facility provides a concrete boarding ramp that is flush with the parking/loading surface, and floating docks to facilitate access the launch areas within the two-lane boat ramp. The existing timber wingwalls and jetties were demolished and reconfigured with new timber wingwalls and jetties. The existing deteriorated concrete ramp was also demolished, removed, and replaced with a new concrete ramp with the recommended grooving pattern for increased stability while launching and retrieving boats.

DBF also provided services that included review of submittals, construction observation visits, response to contractors’ requests for information, and verifications that the construction was being performed in accordance with the approved plans.