Published: Tue, December 04, 2007 - 5:39 pm CST
Last Updated: Tue, December 04, 2007 - 9:30 pm CST
There are images of Hurricane Ivan we will never forget. The I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay, condominiums cracked open like doll houses and Gulf State Pier. The skeleton of the Gulf Coast landmark stands as a silent reminder of the fury of the storm. That, is about to change.Nowadays when you want to fish at Gulf State pier you better have a boat or some waders. But that's about to change.
The first shipment of pilings have arrived and the new pier will be bigger and better than it's predecessor.
"It's 250 feet east of the original one. It's wider, 20 feet wide and the overall length about 1500 feet." David LaGasse is president of the Memphis firm awarded the 16 point 3 million dollar contract. "Fifteen months is the project time and we'll do everything to meet that schedule."
Construction of the pier won't actually start for another couple weeks but just news the project has started has got a lot of folks excited.
"I see it and I'm beginning to believe it but they been promising that for two years." Like many fisherman, Sam Searcy had to move his favorite fishing place from the pier to Perdido Pass. "There and here is about the only place I fish," he says casting his line into the water.
It's been a long wait. Something Wayne Jordan understands having gone through hurricane recovery himself, "I appreciate the problems they had with insurance and all that but good news, good news for the area."
The wait isn't over yet. "That'll be fine if they can get it built before another hurricane comes through," says Searcy.
The new pier will have a restaurant, more restrooms and once complete it will be the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico.
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