People were confused when, earlier this summer, the St. Johns County’s Ocean Pier didn’t reach the ocean anymore. It turns out, as St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold put it, that may have been “a blessing in disguise.”
Without the extra sand from the recently completed beach renourishment project, county staff may not have noticed the damage to the pier’s pilings. With a vote Tuesday, the county commission is committing up to $3 million to shore it up so it’s safe for St. Augustine Beach beachgoers.
The money comes from the county’s Tourist Development Council, and it will fund reinforcements to the pier’s supports that will protect it from corrosion and give it another estimated 20 years of life.
The pier is currently closed to the public amid the safety concerns.