Marshfield Eyes Permanent Sea Wall Fix

Marshfield town officials are working toward a more permanent fix for a 70-year-old sea wall that nearly collapsed last week.

The wall was stabilized over the weekend and a safety check Monday morning showed no further shifting.

But Marshfield Emergency Management Director Lt. Paul Taber says the repairs are only temporary and may not withstand severe storms.

"This is an emergency fix," Taber said. "My concern would be if we had a storm coming in. I don't see any storms in the near future. But if we had a storm come in, it would be a very big concern for us."

Town Administrator Rocco Longo says money in the public works budget will be re-directed toward restoring the most damaged sections of the wall.

"It's a significant undertaking," Longo said. "It's a large piece of our infrastructure, and because of the recent economic crisis, we haven't been able to keep up with some the maintenance like any other town in Massachusetts."

Marshfield officials estimate a complete restoration of the sea wall may cost up to $2.5 million. They are working to secure additional federal and state funding to assist with the project.