North Bass Island is one of Ohio’s western Lake Erie islands, known for its quiet, largely undeveloped character. The island is accessible only by air or water. Its single public pier, the 125-year-old North Bass Island Pier, serves as the primary transportation link for residents, workers, and boaters; has limited ferry service; and is used for the pier delivery of construction materials, heavy equipment, supplies, and goods that cannot practically be transported by air. Over time, the pier had exceeded its useful service life, with deterioration affecting its ability to safely and reliably support continued marine transportation.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) retained KS Associates to lead the design of a major project to assess and rehabilitate the pier. After performing a comprehensive inspection of the pier, KS Coastal Engineers observed that the existing concrete cap and steel sheet pile needed repairs and the existing steel ferry ramp needed to be replaced entirely. The structures had deteriorated to a point where replacement was necessary to restore the pier’s long-term structural stability, reliability, and safety.
KS Associates performed an alternatives analysis to develop a solution that fit within ODNR’s budget. The final design included replacing the sheet pile around the pier head, resetting and adding armor stone to the land connection, and installation of a new hydraulic ferry ramp, new mooring bollards, and new marine fendering.
The project went out to bid in March 2026. In April 2026, Baumann Enterterprizes came in at the lowest lowest bidder. KS Associates is providing construction phase services including construction administration and onsite inspection. The project is expected to come in under budget due to KS’s conceptual analysis and planning.
