DAYTONA BEACH — Most local residents have spent the past couple of months thinking a lot more about Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas presents and New Year's Eve parties than hurricanes.
But much of the damage back-to-back tropical storms inflicted along Volusia County's coast this fall lingers, and that includes wounds to the storm-battered Daytona Beach Pier.
Portions of the nearly 100-year-old wooden span were beat up first by Tropical Storm Ian at the end of September, and then again in early November by Tropical Storm Nicole. As the pair of storms tore through the area, 16 of the pier's pilings were swept away, cross braces snapped and decking splintered.
The repair bill has topped $680,000, and it's still climbing. Restoration work that began in the fall is months away from completion.
"We're still uncovering problems," said city Public Works Director David Waller.
The badly damaged eastern end of the pier where people fish has been closed down since the storms hit, and that section will remain closed for at least a few more months. But the rest of the pier and the Joe's Crab Shack restaurant on the span only closed for a few days after Nicole pummeled Volusia County, Waller said.
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The city hired Orlando-based Construct Co., Inc., to tackle the repairs, the same company that handled work on the pier at the eastern tip of Main Street in 2021 and 2022.
The city manager hired Construct Co. under an emergency contract he approved Nov. 1, about a month after Tropical Storm Ian thundered into Volusia County. That contract authorized $478,900 to be spent on pier repairs.
Then at the beginning of December, a few weeks after Tropical Storm Nicole thrashed the pier again, City Manager Deric Feacher approved Construct Co. taking on an additional $156,645 of repairs.
'Extensive damage' on portions of Daytona pier
At their meeting Wednesday night, city commissioners approved those agreements with Construct Co. as well as another $44,750 of pier work. Because the city had declared a state of emergency after each storm, and because of a provision in the city's Purchasing Code, the city manager was authorized to approve the repair work without a competitive bid process.
The city hopes to eventually be reimbursed for its pier repair expenses by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
After Ian swirled out into the Atlantic and pushed north, the city embarked on an extensive structural review of the pier that included the use of drone video.
A city memo said the review showed "critical structural damage" that included problems on the southeast corner of the deck underneath the Joe's Crab Shack restaurant building. The restaurant has temporarily stopped using customer tables on the weakened portion of the pier, and Joe's has also closed its rooftop that has a bar, stage and more seating for patrons.
"Prompt remedial action was required to stabilize various locations on the pier based on a structural review after each storm and a review of the structure by Public Works engineers utilizing drone video," the memo noted.
In an Oct. 31 memo to Feacher, Waller wrote that Tropical Storm Ian had "caused extensive damage" to the pier.
"Critical structural damage includes 13 pilings that were swept away as well as numerous cross braces and damage to other critical structure components," Waller said in the memo. "The pier decking is sagging and in danger of complete collapse at both locations, which proposes an immediate danger to the safety of the general public and preservation of public property. Prompt remedial repairs are required at this and other various locations to stabilize the Main Street Pier structure."
After Tropical Storm Nicole blew through Volusia County, Waller detailed the additional damage that system inflicted.
"Structural damage in the area of the southeast corner of Joe's Crab Shack occurred, including three pilings that were swept away as well as several cross braces," Waller wrote in a Nov. 30 memo. "At this location the outside deck of Joe's is sagging and seating has also been restricted inside Joe's Crab Shack on account of the damage. Prompt remedial repairs are required at this location to stabilize the pier structure."
Should a new pier be built?
The contract Feacher signed Nov. 1 said Construct Co. had 113 days to substantially complete its work, and 120 days to fully complete the pier repairs. The document said the company could be ordered to pay liquidated damages of $1,197 for each day of unexcused delay in achieving substantial completion, and $598 per day for unexcused delays from the date of substantial completion to final completion.
The $156,645 contract change order approved by Feacher Dec. 6 to add repairs for damages caused by Nicole gave the contractor an additional 20 days to complete its installation of shoring, bracing, replacement piles, cross braces and connections underneath Joe's Crab Shack.
A second change order submitted last month added another 10 days for work and another $44,750. The additional work involves installation of shoring, temporary piles and bracing as well as a complete joist lift and other repairsneeded to stabilize the pier.
Waller said he's not sure when the pier will fully reopen and all work will be complete. He said the initial contract was just a "triage" measure, and another contract will be coming for decking and railing work.
The pier has been repaired repeatedly over the past 15 years, including one major overhaul that was completed about 10 years ago. Over the past few decades, city leaders have also occasionally discussed building a new pier.
It's an idea being explored again as the city is finishing up a feasibility study looking at building a replacement pier just south of the existing pier, and then tearing down the historic span. Waller said it's just a concept, and any changes would not be immediate.
Structural Engineers of Ormond Beach, which performed a visual inspection of the pier on Nov 10, agrees the city needs to make decisions about the structure's future. The firm issued a report Nov. 15 that concluded with a warning.
"The existing pier is reaching the life of the structure at a fast pace and alternatives are to be considered quickly," stated the report signed by structural engineer John Simko.
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com
