U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the /U.S. Coast Guard
Proposed repair of the Cleveland West Pierhead Light

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have proposed repairs to the Cleveland West Pierhead Light, which includes the Fog Signal Building. The entire site is a Historic Site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the light is solar-powered, and the foghorn, which formerly was a compressed-air-powered diaphone emitting the signature low bass "BEEEEE-OH!" sound that could be heard for fifteen miles, has been replaced by an electronic signal. The Fog Signal Buiilding is now empty.

 West Pierhead Light

Click for larger image (31 Oct 2008)
The platform upon which the Light and Fog Signal Building rest consists of timber cribs filled with stones, surrounded with massive concrete caps. The entire platform is deteriorating, resulting an a noticeable tilt to the platform and also the structures it supports. Thus the USACE, which is responsible for the maintenance of the platform, and the USCG, which is responsible for the Light and Fog Signal Building, have proposed a remedial undertaking. Lacking the funds for a complete refurbishment, they have proposed a partial encasement of the plaform with sheet piling, then filling and topping the platform with concrete to stabilize it. In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, a 106 review meeting was called.
What would the work look like? Here's an example: In 2005, the East Pierhead Light's platform was refurbished by temporarily removing the Light Tower for the duration of the work, completely surrounding the platform with sheet piling, filling the voids, and capping with concrete. The Westpier refurbishment would be an incomplete version of the Eastpier work. Also, temporary removal of the Light Tower or Fog Signal Building is not possible. Work must be done with those structures in place. Unlike the Eastpier light, all Westpier structures are integral. Cleveland Eastpier Light