The City of San Diego has just announced that “emergency repairs will begin this week on a section of the Ocean Beach Pier,” and that once the repairs have been completed over the next four months, “the pier will fully reopen for the first time in more than a year.” So, April 2022?
Here is the news release, without edit or comment:
City of San Diego to Begin Emergency Repairs on Ocean Beach Pier
PIER EXPECTED TO FULLY REOPEN AFTER REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE
SAN DIEGO – Emergency repairs will begin this week on a section of the Ocean Beach Pier to fix damage caused by storm conditions in January 2021. Repairs are expected to take approximately four months, depending on the weather and tidal conditions. Once repairs are complete, the pier will fully reopen for the first time in more than a year.
In January, the 55-year-old pier was damaged by high surf. City crews repaired broken railings along the pier before it partially reopened on May 28, 2021. The pier’s west end has remained closed to the public after significant damage to two columns, also known as piles, which vertically support the structure.
“We look forward to completing these emergency repairs so San Diegans can once again enjoy everything this iconic landmark has to offer,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “We are also working on a long-term plan to keep the Ocean Beach Pier accessible and in good shape for generations to come.”
The City is assessing long-term solutions to address sea-level rise attributed to climate change, including a potential full replacement of the pier after a City study determined that the pier has exceeded its service life.
“Our historic fishing pier in Ocean Beach has sustained significant damage over the years, temporarily limiting resident and visitor access to this coastal attraction,” said Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. “Luckily, the emergency repairs being undertaken will help us re-gain full access as we continue to drive the discussion on the future of the entire pier.”
In July, Mayor Gloria announced state funding of more than $200 million allocated for regional projects, including $8.4 million for the Ocean Beach Pier. The iconic pier is the second-longest on the West Coast and attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually.
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Please see this:
City Placing Bandaid on Pier’s Gaping Wound
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Deja vue!
…all over again.
So when will the city fix the massive storm damage caused by the huge storm surf of 2022? Everybody knows those winter swells are about due!
Well hey, since the workers will already be out there (hanging on for dear life perhaps?) no problem0 because I’m sure they’ll bring many extra rolls of that really tough industrial-strength duct tape to wrap that around those pesky pilings with them! If they need extra from new damage they’ll have it! That’ll do the trick. Maybe a few gallons of Gorilla Glue could go into those cracks in the pilings first as I hear great things about that stuff! And how about a nice fresh coat of paint on those railings? At least it’ll look good in the video when they blow off again in the next couple of months and wash up on the beach…
Temporary patching on the Pier in winter. When big surf is expected. I found that pretty humorous. I did get a chuckle out of the mental picture.
Sure, that makes about as much sense as Gloria’s comment about “…for generations to come.” Uh, Mr Mayor, you don’t really believe that do you? The Pier had an expected 50 year lifespan…and it’s almost 2022 which is… counting from 1966, ummm, already sorta past the expected lifespan.
And how did you come up with that ‘generations’ figure Mr. Mayor? Out of your magic hat? (Note: was going to use another 3 letter word but hat was more polite)
Can’t wait to read that long-term ‘PLAN’ which I’m sure will be unveiled in a wonderful self-congratulatory and highly pubic manner sometime in the…distant future. Maybe the hope is that there will be an election by then and it’ll be somebody else’s problem.
In a rational society nobody would believe a word these politicians are saying. Oh wait…
sealintheSelkirks