The City of San Diego has concluded that the safest and most cost-effective option for the Ocean Beach Pier is to keep the structure closed to the public while the city works on a long-term solution to replace the 58-year-old pier.
The Ocean Beach Pier has been closed since it was damaged by high surf in October 2023. Further and more serious damage occurred in December 2023 when a support bracket – or “pile” – broke off and fell into the ocean. Engineering crews have determined that any work to rehabilitate the pier is not feasible, especially given the likelihood of further damage in future winter storms.
“The Ocean Beach Pier is a San Diego landmark, but it was built nearly six decades ago and can no longer withstand the impacts of rising sea levels and storm surges along our coast,” said Elif Cetin, Aassistant DDirector of the Department of Engineering and Investment Projects“Deciding how to proceed will depend on the likelihood that future storms will cause further damage to the pier in the years to come – and whether it makes sense to invest resources in a structure that will continue to need extensive repairs or to invest in the long-term project to replace the pier instead.”
A recent report outlines several immediate actions that could be taken to repair the recent damage to the pier. However, due to the overall cost, schedule, feasibility, and environmental permits that would be required for these options, the city has decided to leave the pier as is. These immediate actions would not allow the pier to be reopened. Reopening the pier would require additional repairs or rehabilitation that would include extensive construction, heavy machinery, and the construction of a new structure to accommodate the equipment and construction personnel.
Although the pier does not pose an immediate threat to public safety, additional signs have been posted along the pier reminding visitors to exercise caution while in the area, citing San Diego’s municipal code, which states that swimming, wading, surfing or diving within 75 feet of any fishing pier owned or operated by the city is prohibited.
A 2018 study concluded that the pier had exceeded its useful life and recommended replacing it. At that time, minimal repairs would have cost about $8 million, and rehabilitation would have cost about $30 to $50 million. Since that 2018 study was conducted, both damage to the pier and repair costs to the construction industry have increased significantly, further strengthening the case for replacement.
The City continues to make progress on the Ocean Beach Pier renewal project. Since April 2023, four community workshops have been held to gather community input on what they would like to see in a new pier. This input was used to develop the preferred design concept for a potential replacement pier that incorporates iconic elements of the existing 58-year-old Ocean Beach Pier and aesthetic elements that provide something modern and new for future generations to enjoy. City consultants are currently making minor updates to the design concept based on the latest community feedback on specific pier amenities such as lighting and shade options. This updated design concept is expected to be released in the fall.
City staff is working to obtain the necessary environmental permits for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act and to work with appropriate stakeholders to obtain feedback during the process of preparing the environmental impact report and to obtain the necessary funds. The estimated cost for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project is between $170 million and $190 million. This figure represents the total estimated cost of the project and includes everything completed to date for the citizen engagement process through the end of construction. Currently, $8.4 million in state funding is earmarked for the project.
If the project receives the necessary environmental approvals and allocates the necessary funding, demolition of the existing pier and construction of the new pier will occur simultaneously. The new pier will be built on approximately the same footprint as the existing pier, but with a higher deck height to minimize the risk of wave damage and to accommodate future sea level rise. Work would likely begin at the base of the pier, where it connects to land, and then work its way westward.
The start and finish schedule for this project has not yet been determined but will be announced once the environmental permitting and fundraising process is complete. A current project schedule is available on the project website. For the schedule and more information on the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project, visit OBPierRenewal.com.
