The six-month project will include the construction of new piers along Ego Alley to accommodate larger boats, a new boardwalk, rain gardens replacing parking lot islands at City Dock, bulkhead wrapping and upgraded electricity for the piers.

The project is being funded by the city, the state and a $500,000 grant from the federal government.

Ego Alley will be closed to boats during the construction, and about 30 (free) parking spaces will be lost temporarily, said Ray Weaver, a spokesman for the city.

Roads to businesses in the area will remain open, but traffic patterns will be altered and tour buses probably won't be able to navigate some of the turns, Mr. Weaver said.

Ms. Moyer has stressed the timeliness of the project and the importance of completing it by deadline.

"It really relates to the beginning of the spring season for the businesses down there," she said. "The contract clearly specifies what the time frame is, which means we are working double shifts and we may have to pick up a third shift."

Ms. Moyer also is concerned about getting the job done in time for the Maritime Heritage Festival, scheduled for City Dock in May as part of the city's Charter 300 celebration.

Construction is expected to take place from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., six days a week, Mr. Weaver said.

The contractor, Corman-Imback Marine, also has promised to emphasize safety and to disrupt the public as little as possible.

Cranes won't lift loads over cars and pedestrians, and workers at the site will be shuttled to City Dock to avoid clogging downtown streets with vehicles.

According to company representatives, the job will require three floating cranes, each with a platform about 50 by 150 feet, accompanied by a barge of about the same size. As much as possible, construction materials will be

brought in by barge to avoid having to get large trucks through the downtown area.

The work area also will be enclosed behind metal fences, and anyone entering it must have an appointment and be escorted.

The main irritant the public will encounter will be noise caused when 97 steel pilings are driven into the ground, at roughly the middle of the land area that constitutes the park and parking spaces.

The contractor plans to complete the pilings job during the first six weeks.

"The disruption in the dock area will be pretty intense," Ms. Moyer said. "But on the other hand, it will be really interesting for people who like to look at capital improvement programs and see how the new foundation is being done."

She also cited about three years of talks between residents and businesses about the impact of the construction, saying "the dates and schedule were set to ensure minimal impact."

Clare Vanderbeek, executive director of the Annapolis Business Association, said the work on the dock won't have a negative impact on downtown businesses during the busy holiday season.

"It shouldn't affect Midnight Madness or holiday shopping," she said. "Those shoppers are there to visit the stores and restaurants. The City Dock really needs to be repaired, and people know it's important."

Debbie Gosselin, president of the charter boat company Watermark, said that although her company will be affected by the construction, private charters will continue.

"The only thing negatively impacted are the walk-up public tours," she said. "But we understand that this work is needed and has to be done and this is the best time to do it."

She and many other business owners downtown are just looking forward to getting it over with, while still excited about the end result.

"It's going to be messy and loud, but it's great they have compressed the time frame," Ms. Gosselin said.