A trip to Ocean Beach is nothing without the waves, sound of the ocean + views of the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier. The concrete landmark has been part of OB since 1966, attracts 500,000+ yearly visitors, and is a reel big hit with local fishers.

But not all things are as they a-pier. Recent damage + closures have prompted emergency repairs and discussions about the future of this pier-turesque oceanfront attraction.

*It’s not a trip to OB without the pier.* | *Photo via* *@jennycoffeyphoto*

🌊 Recent repairs

High surf is known to batter the Ocean Beach Pier. Until last month, locals + visitors hadn’t had full access to due to storm damage — and salty beachgoers were awaiting a reopening. But the City of San Diego didn’t give into pier pressure, and it took about a year and a half to fully complete repairs.

In January 2021, a storm with high waves knocked over railings, making the pier unsafe + resulting in a full closure.
The pier partially reopened in May 2021. Visitors weren’t able to go past the bait shop + cafe, prohibiting access to the left and right sides of the T-shaped pier.
The State of California allocated $8.4 million to fully fix storm damage + reopen the pier in July 2021.
Repairs began in December 2021, resulting in full closures for the first half of this year.
On July 8, 2022, the pier fully reopened.

Prior to the storm in 2021, the pier underwent $430,000 in repairs resulting from damage caused by a January 2019 storm.

*At OB, the pier is part of the family.* | *Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday*

🌊 Time to re-pier?

It’s hard to imagine Ocean Beach without its landmark — and we won’t have to — but we may need to wave goodbye to the current pier.

In May 2021, development group Moffatt & Nichol + city officials proposed rehabilitating the pier at the cost of $30-50 million or rebuilding it, currently estimated around $65 million. The Ocean Beach Planning Committee presented a plan for a replacement in June 2022 — the only solution that would address the increased storm frequency + rising sea levels.

A timeline has yet to be established, so the pier as we know it will keep standing for now — but the city will take first steps this fall by assembling a task force to investigate the replacement. Before construction moves forward the city will need to create plans, follow environmental regulations, apply for grants + obtain community feedback.