Orlando Sentinel File
The City Pier at Anna Maria Island was built in 1911, but damage from Hurricane Irma is forcing officials to tear it down to be rebuilt from scratch. ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — A historic city pier on Florida’s Gulf Coast that was damaged by Hurricane Irma will be torn down and rebuilt from scratch.
After the storm blew through in September, officials called damage to the Anna Maria Island pier “extensive.” The pier, bait shop and restaurant would be closed for at least a year.
The Bradenton Herald reports that the city commission voted to rebuild.
The pier was built in 1911, but according to Mayor Dan Murphy, its life span had about five years remaining.
Murphy expects the project to cost between $3 million and $4 million, which will extend the pier’s life by about 75 to 100 years.
Officials hope to have it reopened by 2019.
