New construction bids needed for fishing pier's makeover

The agency that plans to give a facelift to the fishing pier next to the Ocean City-Longport Bridge will be seeking new construction bids for the project after the first round came in much higher than expected.

The Cape May County Bridge Commission plans to re-advertise for bids in the next seven to 10 days, according to Executive Director Kevin Lare.

Last month, the bridge commission rejected the first set of bids because they were significantly higher than the $517,350 pre-bid estimate. The lowest bid came in at $769,200, Lare said.

For the last three years, the commission has looking for ways to make the deteriorated fishing pier more inviting to anglers and sightseers.

Upgrades that have been discussed include new railings, new concrete benches, new trash receptacles, new fish clean-out stations, repairs to the concrete deck surface and the joints and a new trash enclosure with a new fence.

Lare said the bridge commission is revising the plans, including the railing system, the entrance to the pier, relocating and enclosing the portable toilets and also upgrading the picnic seating area.

    Deteriorated benches like this one in 2024 will be thrown out and replaced by new concrete benches.
  

Ideally, the improvements will be completed before next Memorial Day, the traditional kickoff for the busy summer tourism season at the shore, Lare said.

The fishing pier was created when the new Ocean City-Longport Bridge opened in 2002. A 500-foot section of the demolished old bridge was saved on the Egg Harbor Township side of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet for the pier.

During the summer tourism season, the pier is popular with anglers as well as sightseers who savor the panoramic views of the bay, marshlands and wildlife unfolding for miles.

The pier itself, though, is not so attractive. The wood railings that run the length of the pier are rotted in places, benches have holes in them, trash cans are deteriorated and even the concrete deck is dingy.

“These updates/repairs will provide an even more suitable area for all of the patrons who make use of the pier year-round and further provides wholesome, free recreational opportunities. The upgrades will prove especially beneficial to the aesthetic and practical use of the pier,” Lare said last year while describing the improvement project.

    Picturesque views of the bay unfold for miles from the fishing pier.