Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday that Florida will construct a brand-new fishing pier on the Manatee County side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge while fixing the Pinellas County structure. Hurricane Milton wrecked part of the south pier in October, sparking the project.
The state shut down roughly 0.6 miles of the 2-mile-long south pier. A structural inspection revealed storm damage. Workers will construct the new pier adjacent to what stands now on the Manatee side.
“This has been a major place for a lot of people, a major iconic fishing spot,” DeSantis said during the announcement, according to FOX 13. “It’s also a popular recreational spot for photography, kiteboarding, kayaking, and just enjoying the sights and sounds of Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast.”
The Pinellas side will get repairs meant to stretch its lifespan another 20 years. Crews have started work on parking areas and widening sidewalks along the seawall.
The closure has hurt local anglers. William Dunn runs the nonprofit Take a Kid Fishing. He’s used this spot to mentor children in the foster care system for five years.
“It’s always full,” Dunn said about the Skyway Fishing Pier, “It has been a big impact.”
The state will install temporary fishing piers so anglers can keep using the area during construction. Dunn praised the expansion plans.
“I was just amazed with joy,” Dunn said, according to FOX 13. “It’s a win-win situation. It keeps these kids outside and off tablets.”
A ship crashed into the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge in 1980, killing 35 people. The state replaced the bridge. Officials turned the ends of the old bridge into two Tampa Bay fishing piers.
Demolition will begin later this spring. Workers will tear down the south pier and unused portions of the north pier. DeSantis didn’t provide a specific completion date but said the state plans to move quickly.
“I plan to have this project completed expeditiously so people can once again enjoy this great recreational attraction,” he said, according to the Bradenton Herald.