Lieutenant Governor Murray Attends Ribbon Cutting for Town Pier

GOSNOLD, MA - Today, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, accompanied by a group of legislators, municipal officials and residents, led a ribbon cutting of the revitalized Town Pier and Fuel Dock in the Town of Gosnold on Cuttyhunk Island.

Last year, the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council (SAC), chaired by Lieutenant Governor Murray, received a town-commissioned report indicating that the structural integrity of the existing pier on Cuttyhunk Island was failing. The dock serves as a wharf for the MV Cuttyhunk, which arrives year-round from New Bedford with passengers, mail, freight and groceries for the island residents. Cuttyhunk Island also gets its electric power from a small generating plant on the island which is dependent on fuel deliveries from off the island.

"The dock is an anchor for Cuttyhunk Island and residents of Gosnold," said Lieutenant Governor Murray. "Without these desperately needed repairs to the pier and dock, residents of Gosnold would have difficulty obtaining basic deliveries and services."

The Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council approved funding to renovate the pier at its fall Council meeting in September 2008. The project costs of $320,000, which comes from the Environmental Bond Bill, included engineering, permitting, construction of piles, and deck replacement. The renovation project was completed in June.

"I am thrilled with the opening of Gosnold's new fuel and ferry dock," said Senator O'Leary (D-Barnstable). "Considering Gosnold's geography and isolation, this project provides the town with a necessary new facility to offload fuel and passengers and I commend the Seaport Council on their work."

Added Representative Timothy Madden (D-Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket), "I am glad to see the Governor and Lt. Governor bring Environmental Bond Bill funding to Gosnold to complete this project. It will surely be an important asset to the town."

The Seaport Advisory Council, Chaired by Lieutenant Governor Murray, consists of 15 members including cabinet secretaries, agency heads, mayors from seaport communities, and regional and waterway user representatives. Under the Patrick-Murray Administration, the Seaport Council has allocated over $25 million to projects in Massachusetts to enhance and develop the commercial aspects of the ports and harbors in the Commonwealth's coastal communities. The Town of Gosnold, the smallest of the 351 towns in Massachusetts, is made up of the Elizabeth Islands; Nonamesset, Uncatena, Weepecket, Gull, Naushon, Pasque, Nashawena, Penikese and Cuttyhunk.

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