SAN DIEGO — The Ocean Beach pier is closed again due to damage caused by high surf. Locked up and gated off for several weeks, people are anxious for the pier to reopen.
“I don’t like it, I love the pier, I love coming to Ocean Beach for the pier, so I would love it if it was open,” said Brittney Lawley, who came to the beach Tuesday with her mother-in-law.
“It is disappointing for a lot of locals,” said Janette Durham, owner of Janette’s Cleaning Service. “People love to come over here and have their coffee or go to the café and have lunch and fishing, of course.”
San Diego Lifeguards told CBS 8 they closed the pier on October 20 as a precaution during high surf conditions, and while it was closed, it suffered damage.
“The tide came in, it was a really big high tide that day, it destroyed the boards, the railings, the support beams and stuff,” said Ocean Beach resident, Christopher Jenkins.
Sunday night, police were called out when about 30 people were on the pier after someone clipped the lock and opened the gate, according to Jenkins.
“They cleared everyone out because someone had opened up the gate, which is usually what happens, so they come out, bring some bolt-cutters up and they open the gate,” said Jenkins.
The City is still working to assess the damage and determine how long repairs will take.
“You know it’s kind of iconic down here, it’d be kind of nice to have something a little bit more permanent or something that’s a little bit better for the community that could be open year-round,” said surfer Craig Jenkins.
The City has plans to replace the aging pier, which was first opened in 1966. City spokesperson Tyler Becker sent the following update on the project:
“The community survey for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal Project closed in October and the engineering and architectural consultants are currently reviewing the results. These results will help shape the preferred design concept, which is expected to be presented to the public early next year. After the preferred design concept is completed, a detailed project schedule and cost estimate will be prepared.”
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