$410K project to repair Venice pier begins

Construction is set to begin to repair the end of the Venice pier, which was damaged in hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The remainder of the pier remains open to the public.

Tampa Bay Marine, a marine and general construction company based in Gibsonton, is staging this week to prepare for the work, which is expected to take four months to complete, according to a statement from the city of Venice.

The repairs at the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier’s “T” structure involve removing and replacing hurricane-damaged framing, decking and railing, the statement says. Contractors will leave in place primary structural components such as beams, pile caps and piles.

City officials estimate the project will cost $410,000.

The bait shop and portion of the pier not being repaired will continue to be open during construction, with the potential for intermittent closures.

The Venice Municipal Fishing Pier is 720 feet long. Originally built in 1966 for nearly $134,000, it has been rebuilt twice — in 1984 after a 1981 storm, and in 2004 it was replaced for $1.75 million, with funds raised by municipal bonsd. The deck and railing materials were replaced in 2019 for nearly $739,000.

Tampa Bay Marine has handled large-scale projects in its 15-year history, according to its website, including multimillion-dollar marinas, commercial seawalls and bridge repairs.