Fort Myers Beach pier rebuild inches closer, nearly 4 years after Ian

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (WINK)—For nearly four years, the Fort Myers Beach Pier has stood still, hit by Hurricane Ian and stuck in limbo.

After permits were finally approved last month, this week brought something new. Crews were spotted walking along the damaged pier, a small sign that this long-awaited rebuild may finally be moving forward.

The pier is still gated off and broken, and there's still no active construction. But for the first time in a long time, people say they saw something different—Lee County officials, contractors, and crews walking the pier, taking what could be the final step before construction begins.

"It's like a dead-end street in the hood," Raymond said.

The view hasn't changed much—broken concrete, weathered pilings, and a pier that still ends nowhere. This week, there was something new to see: hard hats, safety vests, and Lee County officials walking along the rubble.

"They're saying that the piers that they're going to be putting down the concrete footings are going to be 70 feet long, so they need 140 feet on both sides for safety, and they should be out here within the next couple of weeks, starting to secure the area and get it started," Terry Persaud said.

Persaud has had a front row seat to the pier's silence since Ian. Now, he says the answers to questions are finally starting to come, with a little hope.

"I think next year is going to be the year for Fort Myers Beach," Persaud said.

"Eventually, it will look a lot better. It's a work in progress," Sue said.

"One step closer—let's just rebuild it. Let's get it done," Raymond said.

Lee County said what people saw this week was a routine pre-construction site visit for the final steps. A groundbreaking ceremony will be announced soon, and the community will be invited.

If everything stays on track, the pier should be welcoming people back by late Summer of 2027.