CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Activity is ramping up at the site of the new Bob Hall Pier at Padre Balli Park on Padre Island.
The $28.5 million project will replace the old pier which was heavily damaged beyond repair during 2020's Hurricane Hanna.
But what residents see being constructed right now isn't actually the pier, at least not yet.
If you plan to go out to Padre Island over the holiday week, you might want to distance yourself from the construction project underway, because it can get loud at times.
In fact, it's so loud that crews were handing out ear plugs to beachgoers in the area, but those 3NEWS spoke with on Monday didn't seem to mind. They're just counting the days until the new Bob Hall Pier is completed.
You could call it the sound of progress.
"You hear it and about a second later the vibrations are right below your feet, that's pretty cool," beachgoer Kevin Navid said.
Zach Backer has been patiently waiting for the resurrection of Bob Hall Pier.
"A brand new pier, restaurant, they're gonna have a bait shop, everything," he said. "It's gonna be definitely better than it was before."
County Commissioner Brent Chesney explained that the construction that can be seen right now, isn't on the pier itself, but rather on a trestle that will stretch out into the Gulf and be an important tool in the building process.
"960 linear feet out, then use that to build the pier next to it," he said. "It's a pretty in depth process, you're hearing it, you're seeing it."
Chesney said the track will be used to allow easy access for machinery and workers for the construction of the new pier.
"Going to have a beautiful restaurant space, about 5,000 square feet of space, gonna have some cool signage, so people can take pictures," he said about the new pier once it's completed.
The pier will be built to the left of the trestle and will be bigger, longer, and stronger than the original.
"What will happen is that structure will stay, the foundation will stay, we'll build another foundation, next to the building will be the pier and go out to the ocean," Chesney said.
Island residents don't mind the wait.
"We know it's going to be a long time, but the fact they've started, it keeps us going out here," said Chuck Smith.
Chesney said the project is on track and on budget, which means this time next year, the iconic fishing and surfing spot will be back in business.