By Jorge Casuso

September 30, 2025 -- After more than a decade of planning, the City Council on Tuesday is expected to give the final go-ahead to replace the 86-year old Pier bridge starting in November.

The long-delayed project -- which had initially been scheduled to be completed in 2017 -- will take 24 months to finish, making it ready in time for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The item on Tuesday's consent calendar that requires no discussion authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute a $35,579,292 contract with Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., according to staff's report to the Council.

During construction, which would be largely bankrolled with Federal funds, the Pier's iconic sign will be removed and a temporary 8-foot-wide walkway that connects to Ocean Avenue will be built adjacent to the south side of the bridge.

The parking lot just north of the Pier will be used as a staging area, resulting in the loss of 365 parking spaces. A temporary ramp will be constructed on the lot allowing cars, trucks and emergency vehicles to access the Pier parking deck.

"During construction, the contractor must be provided with enough working space to safely demolish the existing bridge and construct the new bridge, while minimizing disruptions in access to the beach, pier, residences, and businesses," staff wrote.

Public Works staff "would maintain an ongoing dialog to receive feedback from the public and disseminate project information, ensuring consistent outreach to the public, Pier tenants, and other stakeholders," staff wrote.

The new structure, which includes seismic safety upgrades, will be wider than the existing bridge and will maintain one traffic lane in each direction, while expanding walkways and adding new lighting and railing.

Its 39-foot width, which is 5 feet wider to the north than the current structure, includes a 15-foot sidewalk that will be moved to the south side of the bridge and a 20-foot roadway for bicycles and vehicles.

The new 447-foot bridge will also be less steep than the current 500-foot long structure, which is difficult for those on bicycles and in wheelchairs to safely cross.

To remove the existing bridge, the connecting portions of the pier will be partially removed for construction access and later reconstructed.

The pier deck will be widened to the north to match the slightly wider new bridge, and the walkway on the pier in front of the businesses will be widened to align with the new sidewalk on the south side of the bridge, according to staff.

The pier sign will be moved about ten feet north of its current location and raised to provide a vertical clearance of 17 feet, according to the staff report.

The project is complex and requires protecting historic structures immediately adjacent to the project, staff said. It also requires identifying and coordinating a "dense utility network around the pier."

Shimmick was recommended by staff for the job after 323 vendors downloaded the City's bid data posted on May 5 and four submitted bids.

The company, which has built water related projects across California, was the lowest bidder and was determined to be "the most qualified based on bid price."

The company has the "ability, capacity, and skill to complete the project within the specified timeframe" and has a "reputation and experience in successfully completing previous bridge projects."

The project is funded with a $30,201,250 grant from the Federal Highway Bridge Program, "under which the City executed an agreement to be reimbursed for construction expenditures."

The remaining 25 percent is funded with local transportation funding that has already been budgeted in the current fiscal year.