May 15, 2009 - Orange Beach, AL - The latest news from the new
Alabama Gulf State Park Pier construction team is that they hope to have
the pier completed in 60 to 90 days. That would put the opening
date between mid-July and late August 2009. The Gulf State Park Pier was originally scheduled for completion in
March of this year. Weather conditions and high waves over the last year have greatly
hampered the progress on the new pier.
David Thornton (a.k.a Pier#'r) staking out his fishing spot - file Photo from May 19, 2008
Prior to the 2008 Hurricane season, L.C.I. Construction was about 5
months ahead of schedule on the pier construction. That is until waves
from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 damaged the end of the pier. The damage on top of the strong winds and turbulent waters this
spring have prevented the construction team from getting their equipment
(cranes on barges) out
to the worksite. Below is a video of the conditions experienced at the Gulf State Park
Pier on September 11, 2008, when Hurricane Ike passed south of Orange
Beach and Gulf Shores, AL. In the video below large waves
can bee seen breaking over the top of the pier.
Below is a WKRG-TV5 video news report from May 14, 2009.
Gulf State Park Pier Update- May 2009 