CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The archway is up and will serve as a welcome for visitors and fishermen alike at the new and improved Cole Park Pier.
"They are going to be flabbergasted because of so many improvements that we've added in restoring this historic pier,” Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo said of the project.
Mayor Guajardo is getting to see the progress first-hand, and she was given a status report from folks with J.M. Davidson, the group in charge of the build.
"Pile driving complete, all decking halfway complete, electrical is going in, the pavilion is going in," Marshall Davidson, Owner and Operations Manager said.
Much like the old pier, the new one will be just over 500 feet long, but the walkway will be much wider.
What’s new? Shade structures, seating, additional parking, lighting, and fish cleaning stations.
Davidson tells 3New he's proud to work on what he says will be a historic pier, overcoming all the elements.
“Needless to say, Corpus Christi Bay can be very rough to work on. This side of the bay is really choppy, our barges and marine equipment have been through a battle out here,” he added.
And while the project is inching closer to completion, to see how far it’s come, you have to take a look back.
After years of wear and tear, then damaged by Hurricane Harvey, part of that pier eventually collapsed into the bay.
It was determined the popular fishing spot would have to be replaced.
At a cost just over 7.5 million dollars, the old pier came down, and a new one built up.
"People can expect a breeze from Corpus Christi Bay; they can expect beautiful views, (and) expanded fishing areas,” Davidson said.
The project is expected to be completed by Dec. 17. Davidson said the new pier will last for decades to come.
"I've got to give my grandkids something to do, so they will be rebuilding it in two-to-three generations. A long time."
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