County receives Army Corps of Engineers permit to replace beach pier
Lee County officials said they have received the permit they have been waiting on since last year from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin working on the replacement of the Fort Myers Beach Pier.
Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka said the approval was received on Monday. Work could begin as soon as August and will take approximately 12 months, he said.
“There is one interim step from the federal government for final clearance of funding from Congress, that’s just a formality. That’s not a matter of a yes or no. It’s just federal paperwork,” Mulicka said.
Lee County spokesperson Tim Engstrom said “the county has received the required federal permits for pier reconstruction and is now completing the important coordination work that takes place before construction begins.”
Pre-construction efforts include “coordination meetings, final review of the contractor’s project schedule and construction submittals, and coordination with regulatory agencies and project stakeholders. Lee County is working closely with its consultants to facilitate meetings with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to ensure all environmental, safety, operational, permitting, and regulatory requirements are satisfied before construction begins,” Engstrom said.
“The county understands the community is eager to see visible construction activity,” Engstrom said. “It is important to keep in mind that preparing crews, mobilizing equipment, and staging materials takes time for projects of this size and complexity. This work is actively moving forward behind the scenes to ensure construction begins as safely and efficiently as possible. The county appreciates the public’s patience and support as this landmark project progresses.”
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said she is “thrilled, over the moon.”
Liszak hopes the work can be completed before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Ian in September of next year. “Let’s go, get the shovels going,” Liszak said.
Liszak said the pier is the No. 1 visited spot in the county. “Getting this up and running gives us fresh, positive news for people to visit us again.”
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