Lee County commissioners award construction contract for Fort Myers Beach Pier

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Renderings of the new Fort Myers Beach Pier have been released by Lee County through the design firm Stantec. The new pier is expected to be completed in 2028. Rendering provided courtesy of Lee County.

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Renderings of the new Fort Myers Beach Pier have been released by Lee County through the design firm Stantec. Rendering provided courtesy of Lee County.

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Lee County expects to receive approximately $11 million from FEMA to rebuild the Fort Myers Beach Pier. Since Lee County commissioners approved building the pier back larger, there will be a shortfall of approximately $6 million the county needs to come up with either through Lee County Tourist Development Tax funds or through a new request to use funds from the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

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The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a $11.7 million construction contract for the reconstruction of the Fort Myers Beach Pier, as the county awaits approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on permits the county has applied for to conduct the rebuild.

The construction is expected to take one year and can begin once permits are finalized.

The pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

The reconstruction contract was awarded to RJ Gorman Contracting LLC and will extend the pier to roughly 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, or more than 70% longer and 50% wider than the pier destroyed by Hurricane Ian, Lee County officials stated on Tuesday.

The pier will incorporate reinforced concrete piles, a concrete deck, aluminum railings, an entry gate and three shade structures, establishing the pier as a durable community landmark. Construction will start after all permits are received and is expected to take about a year.

The county commissioners approved a $1.17 million design contract in 2024 with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. for the new pier.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved permits in September for the project.

FEMA was still conducting the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation compliance review, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting a review.

The rebuilt pier will be in the same location as the destroyed pier, adjacent to Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Crescent Beach Family Park.

The project is planned to be funded through the Florida Department of Emergency Management Legislative Appropriation Program, Tourist Development Tax funds, and RESTORE Act grants stemming from the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010.