News Release

Construction and Planning Projects Underway at the National Seashore

The major rehabilitation of Highland Light is one of many construction projects underway at the national seashore.

NPS

News Release Date: July 16, 2020

Contact: Superintendent Brian Carlstrom

Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent Brian Carlstrom has announced that several contract projects are underway again at the national seashore following delays due to COVID-19. Work includes rehabilitation of Highland Light in Truro; rehabilitation of the restrooms at Marconi Beach; repairs to the water tower in Wellfleet; construction of an accessible walkway at Province Lands Visitor Center; new entrance signs at three key national seashore locations; septic system upgrades at Salt Pond Visitor Center; several improvements at Coast Guard Beach; and construction of a new bathhouse at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham.

In Truro, Cape Cod (Highland) Light is undergoing a major interior and exterior rehabilitation to repair deterioration caused by excessive moisture over time. The tower will be repointed, corroded metal will be repaired or replaced, and venting for air circulation will be restored. The tower and store are closed during this year-long project. 
  
The rehabilitation of the Marconi Beach restroom involves accessibility improvements, replacement of all plumbing, fixtures, doors, and windows, and new finishes. When complete, the visitor experience at Marconi Beach will be improved. In the interim, porta-potties are being provided.

Repairs and painting of the water tower for the public water system in the Marconi area have resumed. The tower, known as a pedesphere, will be drained, repaired, brought into compliance with updated public health standards, painted, and brought back into service over the next two months.
 
Perched on a high dune at the tip of the Cape, the Province Lands Visitor Center provides stunning views of dunes, lighthouses, ocean, and the Town of Provincetown. A new paved walkway that will meet accessibility standards is under construction. The project should be complete by the end of summer. Exterior rehabilitation work at the visitor center will take place over the fall and winter.
 
The three main seashore entrance signs located in Eastham, Provincetown, and park headquarters have deteriorated over time. As part of a comprehensive sign project which aims to replace all signs in the national seashore, the entrance signs were redesigned and are being installed this summer. Work should be complete by the fall.  
 
To help improve water quality in the Salt Pond embayment, the Salt Pond Visitor Center septic system will be upgraded with innovative redesign measures and equipment; this project will begin shortly and conclude in the fall.

Design is complete for the new bathhouse at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. Construction will begin this fall.  Due to erosion, the previous bathhouse was demolished, and a new facility is being constructed well away from the cliff. Temporary facilities are available again this summer. The new bathhouse should be complete by early summer 2021.
 
Due to severe erosion at Coast Guard Beach this winter and concerns for public safety, a new path to the beach is being installed and will be available for use soon. The national seashore’s roads and trails staff are constructing the path. In addition, the roofs of the Coast Guard building and restroom building will be replaced this fall.

For more information about Cape Cod National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/caco.