Repairs will soon begin on piers in Gulfport that were destroyed by Hurricane Isaac nearly three years ago. Earlier this year, the city approved the lowest bid from J. E. Borries to make the repairs.
The Ken Combs Pier, Urie Pier, Moses Pier and Westside Pier have been left standing but nearly abandoned since August 2012 when Hurricane Isaac damaged them.
After years of discussion from Gulfport city leaders and fishermen voicing their frustrations with the repair delays, the day has come for construction crews to get the ball rolling on the repairs. It's what Ken Combs, Jr. and his family have been waiting for.
"It's just a special place to us, and we're glad to see this day finally come," Combs said.
The Ken Combs Pier was named after his father, who served Gulfport as mayor for 12 years.
"This place has special meaning to us. We feel closer to our father when we're here, but we're excited about the other three piers in the city that hold special meanings to those families, as well, and we're happy for everyone," Combs said.
The repair delays came from a biological opinion study that had to be done by NOAA and the National Marine and Fisheries Services.
After the survey was complete and showed fishing off those piers wouldn't threaten the endangered Kemps Ridley turtle, the city received the thumbs up for reconstruction that Gulfport residents have been waiting for.
"Each of them mean many different things to each of the different people and families, and now with them being rebuilt, people can start using them again. Fishing off them, just taking walks on them, and it's just a good day. We've been waiting on this day for a while," Combs said.
According to Gulfport officials, repairs to the four piers should be completed by the end of May. The Ken Combs Pier will be repaired first.
According to Gulfport city spokesman Chris Vignes, the work will begin with two crews. One crew will do demolition work at each site and the other crew will begin construction.
The cost of the repair project is just under $850,000.
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