The iconic Ocean Beach Pier has been permanently closed to the public after suffering damage from recent powerful storms. The pier, which has been battered by waves in recent years, is scheduled for replacement.
The 58-year-old Ocean Beach Pier, which first lost a piling last December, has been closed since it was damaged by high surf in October 2023. This is the third year out of the past four that the iconic structure at the foot of Niagara Avenue has been battered by big waves. The rough seas have taken a toll on the structure, which was originally erected in 1966. This week, the waves reached peaks rarely seen in San Diego, with some wave faces estimated at higher than 15 feet.
The pier has been closed off-and-on to the public since a pounding back in January 2021, after which city workers were called in to repair and replace many wood railings destroyed by surf. Then in 2023, the pier, which the city said was nearing the end of its useful life, was permanently closed to public after more powerful winter weather slammed the structure, for which city officials have since been working on a permanent replacement. Signs posted on the OB Pier now urge people to stay away from the pier. The San Diego Municipal Code states it is against the law for anyone to swim, wade, surf or skin dive within 75 feet of any fishing pier owned or operated by the city. In this case, the danger comes from a possible collapse or debris in the water being roiled by the waves. The city confirmed this past August that it was no longer working toward repairing the pier and instead was looking at replacement options. A series of workshops on possible designs have been held on the pier's replacement. In the report released in August, the city confirmed repairing the damaged Ocean Beach Pier was no longer feasible. Last December, the 58-year-old pier had a piling break off and fall into the ocean. The city says it has a plan to tear down the old one and build a new one, but it's going to be a long process
OCEAN BEACH PIER STORM DAMAGE CLOSURE REPLACEMENT CITY OF SAN DIEGO
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