Fort Myers Beach pier reconstruction officially begins nearly four years after Hurricane Ian

Fort Myers Beach has begun rebuilding its iconic pier, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, with construction on a larger and more durable structure now underway. Kylin Meyers, a Fort Myers Beach resident, shared her enthusiasm for the project. "I'm very excited about that. I spent a lot of time down here at Fort Myers Beach. I live just on the other side of the bridge, and it's been great seeing the community come back together and having the pier be able to get done. I think it's going to be huge for Fort Myers Beach," Meyers said. The new pier will be approximately 1,000 feet long, a big difference from the original, which was 585 feet long. It will also be 12 feet wide, 4 feet wider than the last one. The project will include a concrete deck, reinforced concrete piles, aluminum railings, an entry gate, and shade structures. The total cost of the project is estimated at $14.4 million. Construction is expected to take about a year, with completion anticipated by late April 2027. David Mulicka, Lee County commissioner for District 3, emphasized the pier's significance to the area. "It is the destination location that everybody sees in all of our brochures. And my whole life growing up here, we all miss it. I think it's going to be an amazing symbol of resilience and recovery, and to see it come back even bigger and better," Mulicka said. While construction has already started, the official groundbreaking ceremony is taking place Friday, marking a major step forward for the Fort Myers Beach community. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV