The Ocean Beach (OB) Municipal Pier has been closed since October 2023 as a result of structural damage sustained from numerous storms that struck San Diego, California. A notice was posted at the site detailing that a demolition claim had been filed with the City of San Diego.
OB Pier is known as the longest concrete pier on the West Coast. The pier has been standing since July 2, 1966, and is a waterfront staple of the Ocean Beach community.
Historically known as a sport fishing pier, this landmark has attracted fishermen, locals and tourists for decades.
Information about the history of the pier as well as recent damage can be found on the city's website. Due to the density of the marine environment, the pier had to receive regular maintenance for the first 25 years of its existence. There was no need to rehabilitate the structure until 1991.
Over the years, the pier has been temporarily closed due to damage, but it closed in October and has not reopened since. Several storms, including one that prompted countywide weather alerts, caused damage to the pier after it was closed.
In early January, a high tide (known as the highest tide of the year to hit California beaches) destroyed one of the pier's support structures. The pier is 57 years old and has not been in perfect condition for a while, but has now been closed for the safety of the community.
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) biology professor Mike Mooring shared his thoughts on what the notice means for the future of the pier.
“From what I understand, the pier will likely be demolished and rebuilt, but there is a long process before that happens,” Mooring said via email. “The demolition notice was simply the first step required to initiate an environmental assessment and recommendation for the construction of a new dock.”
Climate change also played a role in the damage to the pier, Mooring said.
“I also read many references to the fact that sea level rise and larger waves due to climate change contributed to the destruction of the pier,” Mooring said. “There is scientific evidence that wave strength and size on the California coast have increased, and with it damage to piers. OB Pier is not the only pier in trouble due to its age and increased wave damage.
The dock closure was heartbreaking for local residents and PLNU students staying at OB.
Victoria Hector, a third-year psychology major, has lived at OB for the past year as a commuter student.
“Honestly, it's very sad that the pier is closed, but it makes sense given how unsafe and unstable it has become,” Hector said. “It's hard to hear that an OB landmark that my roommates and I love might be removed.”
The City of San Diego has released information about what's coming to the pier. In 2018, a study was conducted that can be found at www.sandiego.gov detailing the three possibilities for the pier: rehabilitation, replacement and repair. The study is a 46-page public document that states:
“Three repair options are being examined: structural repair, rehabilitation, and replacement. There are economic, environmental, and historical issues associated with each option. While the initial cost of the repair option is lower, the repairs will not address the ongoing deterioration of the pier, and the cost of keeping the pier operational into the future will be significant.” .
Rehabilitation will increase the service life of the structure, but the cost is comparable to the replacement option and will change the aesthetics of the structure by adding significant jackets. This will also extend the service life, but for a shorter period of time than is possible with replacement.
Replacing the structure will allow the city to design the pier to current seismic codes and address sea level rise to ensure the pier will be available for future generations. The pier on its website: “Based on the results of a 2018 study of the OB Pier, the city has determined that pursuing a potential replacement of the pier is the best option given the ongoing costs of repairs, the need to modernize the existing facility and the expectation of future sea level rise.
