Having heard the Ocean Beach Pier was reopening Saturday, locals and tourists walked up to the locked gate and peered down the empty walkway.
“When will it open?” was the question of the morning. People left, vowing to check back later.
Just after 11:30 a.m., a lifeguard with a key got a warm welcome.
And as soon as he got the gate doors open, people streamed onto the pier with bikes and dogs.
It was not a minute too soon, as locals had waited since a January 6 storm damaged the pier to the point it was deemed unsafe to use.
In intervening months, city officials faced the dilemma: Continue to repair it or replace it? Community meetings sought public opinions.
But Mayor Todd Gloria said he was hopeful the pier could open in time for summer. With repairs made, city officials have the approval to reopen for now.
In May, it was determined that while storms caused minor damage to the pier’s railings and pump station, the pier itself was structurally safe.
Its future is very much under discussion.
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“I’ve missed being out there,” said Maria Lopez, who biked to the pier hours before it was unlocked.
Justin Hogan said: “To be honest, I never thought it would reopen, if it were that damaged.”
Hogan figured he would have to wait for a new one to be built.
Crews repaired the pier’s facilities and railings, and will continue working on the pump station for several weeks, which won’t impact public access.
Restrooms will remain closed until pump station repairs are finished, according to the city. However, a portable toilet has been placed at the street entrance to the pier.
The Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project aims to provide a long-term solution for the pier through a potential replacement. A 2018 study determined that the pier has reached the end of its service life.
As he waited for the pier to open, nearby resident Nate Robeson said: “We are very excited to have this back in the community. It’s a staple of Ocean Beach, and we’re just happy that we get to enjoy it again.”
Robeson said he used to come to the pier almost every day.
“Mornings, noon or night, whenever we get a chance, we love to walk on the pier,” he said. “We throw a fishing line in or just hang out and watch the sunset.”
Robeson noted the good people-watching.
“You feel like you are out in the ocean and you get some fresh air and Vitamin D and just enjoy it,” he said.
