Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Naples will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 5 for the Naples Pier Rebuild Project, marking a major step toward replacing the historic waterfront landmark heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the beach at the Naples Pier, accessible from the 12th Avenue South beach access. Mayor Teresa Heitmann, City Manager Gary Young and other invited dignitaries are expected to speak.
City officials said the event will recognize the contributions of project partners, stakeholders and community members who have supported efforts to rebuild the pier.
To accommodate the ceremony, the Naples Pier parking lot at 12th Avenue South and Gulf Shore Boulevard South will be closed from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Originally built in 1888, the Naples Pier has been rebuilt multiple times following hurricane damage, including after storms in 1910, 1926, 1944 and 1960. The structure was reconstructed in 2015 and later damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. City officials have since worked to extend the life of the pier through the installation of modern pile jackets.
Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage to the pier in September 2022, destroying or severely damaging about 460 feet of the structure. Roughly 140 feet of the pier, including the end shelter and more than 30 pilings, collapsed into the Gulf. City engineers determined that most structural elements were compromised and that the entire pier must be replaced for safety and resiliency reasons.
The new pier design is based on modern engineering standards and complies with current federal, state and local requirements. City officials said the design process included an analysis of alternatives and incorporates features intended to preserve the pier’s iconic character while improving durability and visitor access.
Design measures include reducing the number of piles and increasing spacing to lessen impacts on adjacent shorelines, increasing the size and strength of pilings, enhancing concrete support for decking and raising the pier’s elevation by at least three feet to improve storm resilience.
The Naples Pier draws more than 1 million visitors annually and serves as a focal point for fishing, recreation, wildlife viewing and tourism.
The city is awaiting final federal approvals to begin demolition and construction. Applications are under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also reviewing the city’s request for reimbursement related to the pier’s damage.
The architecture and engineering team is led by Turrell, Hall & Associates, in partnership with MHK Architecture. Shoreline Foundation Inc. is the project’s construction contractor.
More information about the project is available at www.naplesgov.com/pierrebuild
