If everything goes as planned, the Harper Pier replacement project could be completed by the end of the year.

James Heytvelt, co-chair of the Friends of Harper Pier, said his group, along with neighbors, has been watching the progress of the new replacement pier since the middle of October.

Heytvelt said the community is excited about it.

“The people are chomping at the bit to be the first person to walk out on the pier,” Heytvelt said with a laugh.

The replacement pier, located in Yukon Bay near South Colby, will be smaller and will include a float for kayaks and smaller water crafts.

“A boat load of parts should arrive after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Heytvelt said. “It should go rapidly, then the electrical will be next along with the wood railings.”

Heytvelt said he has been monitoring the construction daily.

“There are a lot of sidewalk superintendents out there every day,” he said.

Port of Bremerton CEO Jim Rothlin said the project got behind, but contractors managed to keep it on schedule.

“What got us kind of behind — for a while — was some piling issues because the soil density was tougher to get through than they have hoped,” Rothlin said. “Because of state regulation, they were only able to do so many strikes on the pilings per day.”

He said the project sat dormant for a period of time while the metal catwalks and other items were being constructed.

“One they got there, bang they just laid them in there,” Rothlin said.

He said there are several sections of the catwalk placed on the pier.

Rothlin said the contractors are looking at completing the project by Dec. 31.

“The contract says they have to be finished by Jan. 15,” Rothlin said. “They are shooting for December in case some issue came up before then.

He said the weather has been cooperative, except for a few days of rain.

Rothlin said the port is planning a grand opening ceremony along with the Friends of Harper Pier.

“The group has been very patient and feel fortunate that it is happening,” he said.

In June, port commissioners accepted Orion Marine Group Inc.’s bid of $958,000 for the project. Orion, which has been in business for more than 80 years, is headquartered in Houston with a Pacific Region office in Tacoma.

In Orion’s bid, $706,000 would be used for the galvanized steel ramp, catwalk and pier; $100,000 for electrical and lighting; $80,000 for site mobilization and demobilization; $40,000 for floats; $30,000 for the gangway and $2,500 for the gangway lifting tow.

The port has allocated $1.4 million in the 2014 budget, which includes $500,000 from the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, $776,000 in state funding and $131,300 from the port.

Removal and disposal of the old pier was completed in March 2013.

It included 128 creosote-treated pilings, 7,500 square feet of “over water structure” (pier decking, stringers, pile caps, crossbeams, etc.) and 15 tons of sub-tidal piling stubs and remnants, and detached pilings on the seafloor, which was removed with the aid of a dive team.