Take a stroll down Front Street on Wednesday evening and visitors may find an illuminated Coupeville Wharf.

Contractors will start work on an assessment of the pilings under the wharf when the tide is out that evening.

David Day, executive director for the Port of Coupeville, successfully applied for $50,000 in rural economic development funds from the county in hopes of conducting an examination of the wharfs aging structure.

Day said the study will look at the wharf’s 265 pilings, piling caps and joists.

“We know there are pilings that aren’t there anymore,” he said. “The west side of the building is bowing out. A lot of what’s happening to the building is a symptom from below.”

Day said he is hoping the study will shed light on what exactly is happening underneath the wharf.

“We know there are at least 20-25 pilings that need serious repair or replacement,” Day said.

To his knowledge, this proposed study may be the first ever for the 110-year-old wharf.

Some of the pilings under the wharf may be original.  When looking underneath, spikes from former pilings can be seen.

Years of patches to deal with rotting wood, deteriorating ocean life and settling lead to some concern for the port.

Once the study is conducted, the contractor will also present a report for port officials with a work plan and cost estimates on needed repairs.