Finally, some great news for everyone who’s been asking about our iconic Venice pier! Construction is officially set to begin on repairing the end of the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier, which took a beating from hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.

The Pier We All Love Is Getting Fixed

Tampa Bay Marine, a marine construction company from Gibsonton, is staging this week to start the repair work. They’re estimating about four months to complete the project, which means we should have our full pier back by summer, just in time for the busy fishing season.

The best part? The rest of the pier and the bait shop will stay open during construction. Sure, there might be some intermittent closures, but that’s a small price to pay for getting our landmark back to full strength.

What They’re Actually Doing

The repair work focuses on the pier’s “T” structure – that’s the end section where all the serious fishing happens. They’re removing and replacing the hurricane-damaged framing, decking, and railing, but leaving the main structural components like beams, pile caps, and piles in place.

This is smart construction – they’re keeping the solid foundation and replacing what the storms damaged. It’s like getting a complete renovation while keeping the bones of the building intact.

A $410,000 Investment in Our Community

The city estimates this project will cost $410,000, which honestly seems like a bargain for getting our pier back to full capacity. When you consider how much this pier means to locals and tourists alike, it’s money well spent.

Our Pier’s Amazing History

Here’s something that might surprise folks who are newer to Venice – our current pier has quite a story. The original was built back in 1966 for nearly $134,000. Since then, it’s been rebuilt twice: once in 1984 after a 1981 storm, and again in 2004 for $1.75 million using municipal bonds.

They even replaced the deck and railing materials in 2019 for nearly $739,000. This pier has weathered decades of storms, and each time we’ve rebuilt it better than before.

Why This Matters So Much

At 720 feet long, the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier isn’t just a place to drop a line – it’s the heart of our waterfront community. We’ve seen families make memories there, watched kids catch their first fish, and witnessed countless sunrises and sunsets from that deck.

During our busy mornings at the shop, we hear story after story about the pier. The retired teacher who walks it every morning for exercise. The grandfather who takes his grandkids there every visit. The teenager who had his first date walking out to the end of the pier.

The Right Team for the Job

Tampa Bay Marine has been handling large-scale marine projects for 15 years, including multimillion-dollar marinas, commercial seawalls, and bridge repairs. When you’re working on something as important as our community pier, you want experienced professionals who understand marine construction.

The fact that they’re staging this week shows they’re ready to get to work and get this done right.

What to Expect

For the next four months, we’ll see construction activity at the pier, but the good news is that most of it will still be accessible. The bait shop will stay open, so anglers can still get their supplies. The main walkway will be available for morning walks and evening strolls.

There might be some noise and activity, but that’s the sound of progress – the sound of our pier getting stronger and better.

A Symbol of Resilience

This repair project represents something bigger than just fixing storm damage. It’s a symbol of Venice’s resilience and our commitment to the things that make our community special.

Every time we’ve faced hurricane damage, we’ve come back stronger. The pier is a perfect example of that spirit – knocked down by storms, but never out for good.

Looking Forward

By the time this project is finished, we’ll have a pier that’s ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at it next. The repaired “T” structure will be built to current standards, meaning it should hold up better against future storms.

And just in time for the busy fishing seasons, when families and visitors flock to the pier for some of the best fishing on the Gulf Coast.

Community Pride

During conversations in our chairs, the pier always comes up as one of the things people love most about Venice. It’s free, it’s accessible, and it connects us to the Gulf of America in a way that’s unique to our city.

Having it fully operational again will be a source of pride for everyone who calls Venice home.