FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — A beloved Fort Myers Beach landmark is making a comeback, and locals could not be more ready for it.
Four years after Hurricane Ian wiped out the pier, construction is now underway to bring it back, and it is ahead of schedule.
Beachgoers who spoke to WINK News at the scene shared what it felt like to watch the pier disappear after the storm.
“When I saw the pier was gone, I was devastated because you always walk out there and see the pelicans and see the people fishing and walk out there and just enjoy the sunshine,” said Shanie Williams, a beachgoer.
The new pier will stretch 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, making it bigger and wider than the original.
Construction started in August as crews cleared out what remained of the old pier that had stood for decades.
Damaged Fort Myers Pier
The project is worth at least $14.4 million.
The rebuilt pier will also be stronger than its predecessor, sitting two feet higher than the previous one and built with reinforced concrete piles to better handle future storms.
Stephen Alcron, another beachgoer, said he watched crews pull the old posts out and noticed the difference right away.
“We saw them pull the old posts out and these are more substantial,” Alcron said.
Others are just happy to see the beach moving forward.
“It’ll be new and improved and hopefully withstand anything else that comes our way,” said Esther Shatzer, a beachgoer.
Williams summed up what many locals are feeling.
“Things are starting to get back to normal and it’s just nice to see that people are coming back. Things are healing and things are getting back to the way it used to be,” Williams said.
The new pier is expected to open in the summer of 2027.