St. Augustine Beach pier, surrounding beach are closed | News

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. -- The pier at St. Augustine Beach and the beach around it are closed to the public this week.

Two restoration projects are happening at the same time.

First, the beach re-nourishment project is underway and it has reached the pier area.

The Army Corps of Engineers is pumping tons of sand from the St. Augustine Inlet on to the beach, creating a bigger, wider beach.

Meanwhile, work began this week on the pier in order to keep it safe and in operation for another two to 10 years, according to Mike Rubin, Director of Construction for St. Johns County.

The upper decking has been removed on a portion of the pier and three large beams that lie underneath the decking will be replaced, Rubin said.

Beachgoers who park at the pier now have a longer trek to get to the beach. They have to walk down a long sidewalk and around construction fencing in order to access the beach north of the pier.

The pier is expected to re-open in August, according to Wil Smith with the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department.

County engineer Andy Ames said the beach around the pier could re-open as soon as this weekend, or possibly next week.