STORM-DAMAGED OCEAN BEACH PIER WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL REPAIRS COMPLETED

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The Ocean Beach pier, damaged in places in last week’s stormy weather, will stay closed to the public until further notice.

According to San Diego lifeguard Lt. Rick Romero, it could take weeks for crews to assess the damage and make repairs. “That’s going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks, if not more,” Romero said. On Jan. 6, heavy surf and high tides caused damage which will cause the pier to remain closed until it can be repaired.

One of the largest swells to hit San Diego County in years produced 10- to 12-foot waves in many spots, according to the National Weather Service and San Diego lifeguards. Romero said San Diego hasn’t seen this kind of surf “in probably over 10 years.”

In October, the San Diego City Council approved the $8 million contract with Long Beach-based engineering consultant Moffatt & Nichols for a study to begin the planning process for replacing the pier. Plans call for construction of a new pier to begin by 2006.