Wright said she hopes Skanska will be forced to pay for the damaged pier. 'It was a popular bridge.'Īfter Hurricane Sally took out the Pensacola Bay Bridge as well as many of the popular fishing spots, Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle has had to drastically reduce hours, although the reopening of Fort Pickens and its fishing pier has helped a bit. And if they need bait or something, they come see us,' Wright said. They bring the car, they back up, they sit there and they plant for the day. 'A lot of people make it their full-day event. She said it was a good spot for fishermen to catch sheepshead, redfish, white trout and flounder. Anmarie Wright, manager of Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle, said it often brought in a lot of revenue from customers who would drive across the bridge into Gulf Breeze for live bait and go back to fish. Reopening: Fort Pickens will reopen Saturday, almost three months after Hurricane Sallyīefore the pier was damaged, it was a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. Payment negotiations: Escambia County in settlement talks with Skanska over increased costs from bridge closureįishing event: Navarre Beach stages post-Sally comeback weekend with fishing rodeo, perfect weather We just can see enough on top and out the boat underneath that it's around 85% (damaged),' Bartlett said. 'We still don't know what's under the water. What happened: Construction barge breaks loose, strikes Three Mile Bridge during Hurricane Sallyīartlett said he inspected the pier with Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA officials earlier this week, and they agreed the structure was close to 85% damaged.

That $23.8 million is what the pier cost to construct in 2011, but the price of materials and labor are likely to be more. Instead, Mark Bartlett, risk manager for the county, said costs could be $4.1 million to demolish the popular fishing pier and at least $23.8 million to rebuild it. Leaders first believed they would need at least $15 million to replace the fishing pier that was damaged in Hurricane Sally, County Administrator Janice Gilley told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday. The cost to take down and replace the fishing pier that runs along the Pensacola Bay Bridge might be more expensive than initially thought. Watch Video: Three Mile Bridge damage investigated by FDOT using drone

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