Pier Plans to Be Unveiled: Completion is Still Two Years Away

By Dusty Ricketts, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Aug. 20–NAVARRE BEACH — Anglers and other residents will get their first look at the redesigned plans for the new Navarre Beach fishing pier at a public workshop this week.

Engineers from the design firm PBS&J, the firm contracted to complete the design and permitting work on the new pier, along with staff members from Santa Rosa County, will update the audience on the pier’s ongoing progress.

“We got several really good comments at the last workshop that were pretty easy to incorporate into the design (of the pier),” said Wayne Lash, PBS&J’s senior project manager for the pier. “I think people are going to be pleased with the design.”

Lash said the workshop, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Holley-Navarre Middle School, is the public’s last chance to comment on the design of the pier before the permitting work begins.

The biggest idea that came from the last public workshop, which was held in January, resulted in a redesign of the end of the fishing pier.

The original pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 featured a T shape at the end from which anglers could fish. The new pier has been redesigned with an octagon at the end to allow more positions for anglers.

The new pier is being designed at the same length as the old pier, but it will be wider and higher. Another improvement is the blowout panels on the walkway, which should help prevent the massive damage Ivan’s storm surge caused to the old pier.

In addition to the 900-foot pier, PBS&J will design a 300-foot extension that would allow it to reach deeper water and bigger fish if construction bids come in low enough.

The completion of the new pier is still expected to be about two years away.

Daily News Staff Writer Dusty Ricketts

can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 1448.

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