A new gangway has been installed at the Marsh Landing Dock on Sapelo Island, following a deadly dock collapse earlier this year.
Seven people tragically lost their lives, and several others were injured on October 19 during the Gullah Geechee community’s annual celebration. Four of the people who died were from Jacksonville.
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The new gangway, which is designed to support up to 260 people or 52,000 pounds, was installed by Myrick Marine Contracting Corp. of Savannah, Georgia.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, an identical gangway was also installed at the Meridian Ferry Dock on the mainland side as a precautionary measure.
The updated gangway, which measures 91 feet in length and 8 feet in width, was designed to prevent such an incident from happening again.
RELATED: Video shows moment gangway collapsed on Sapelo Island, resulting in 7 dead, 6 critically injured
Local resident Christ Bailey said that while the new gangway is a welcomed improvement, it took a devastating event to bring about this much-needed change.
“They should have done that from the get-go,” Bailey said.
Bailey believes that had a crosspiece been installed underneath the old gangway, it might have prevented the deadly collapse.
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“They should’ve had a cross piece under the mill so if something would’ve happened, it wouldn’t have dropped, and nobody would’ve ended up in the river,” he said.
Bailey expressed relief over the stability of the new gangway.
“The gangway feels good. It doesn’t move and you don’t even know that you’re walking on it,” Bailey said.
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He contrasted the new gangway with the old one, which he described as feeling unstable.
“You can feel it bouncing,” he recalled.
The previous gangway was last inspected in 2022, though it was the collapse that ultimately led to the decision to install the new, safer structure. The new gangway will be on schedule for its annual inspections going forward.
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