JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Some of you have called and emailed into our Action News Jax Newsroom with questions about the status of the Jacksonville Beach Pier.
Today, Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole went out there to get answers for you.
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“I got down here last summer and everybody says, ‘Oh, you got to go down to the pier and fish,’” Scott Alexander explained.
However, the pier is still not quite open yet.
Beachgoers haven’t been able to take in the sights from the pier and fishermen haven’t been able to use it for over two years.
Alexander, who fishes regularly below the pier, said he’s never had the opportunity to fish from the pier — he’s only heard stories about it.
“As soon as the pier is done, the fishing is probably going to pick up, you know? Big time,” Alexander exclaimed.
The Jacksonville Beach Pier is part of Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond’s district.
“Almost there, we have about three months to go,” Diamond told Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole.
When it’s done, Diamond said it’s going to look a little different than the original.
“Unlike the last pier, this one’s going to go straight out, and then up 10 more feet,” the council member said.
Last March, Diamond told us they were expecting work to be wrapped up by spring of 2022.
“All the pilings are in, that’s the hardest part,” Diamond said, as he described more of what’s been done already. “And all of the caps are on the pilings. All of the crossbeams are coming in, and so in the next couple of weeks you’re going to see the wood floors and the side ways going in.”
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The pier closed in November 2019 to begin renovations.
It was damaged by Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.
“COVID held us up, the federal government getting us the money to do it held us up, all sorts of problems. But it’s amazing the City of Jacksonville actually kept us pretty much on time,” said Diamond.
He told Cole the project cost $11.5 million and was paid for by FEMA.
“So this summer for sure, you’re going to get to go out there and fish and enjoy our amazing pier,” Diamond said confidently.
“The sooner the better,” Alexander told Cole.
Diamond told Action News Jax this new design should allow the Jacksonville Beach Pier to last 100 years.
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