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Eastern Skyway Piers Will Close Aug. 29

Image from FDOT and FDEP

This image shows a south view of the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and which part will be closed.

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By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 21, 2008

Updated: 08/21/2008 06:38 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - The state will close the eastern portions of the Sunshine Skyway fishing piers because years of deterioration and saltwater corrosion make them difficult to maintain.

That means pushing a little closer together on the remaining western piers for the 335,000 people who use the popular fishing spot each year.

The eastern piers, built in 1954, will close Aug. 29, the state's Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection announced today.

When the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was built over Tampa Bay in 1987, connecting St. Petersburg with Manatee County, the old bridges were opened as the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

It consists of two piers, north and south, that stretch into Tampa Bay. Each north and south pier consists of two former bridges, joined together to make travel easier for drivers and pedestrians.

The western piers, built in 1971, will remain open 24 hours but the state will continue to evaluate them. Crews are modifying the western piers to accommodate two-way traffic and parking.

Inspectors regularly check the piers for cracks and deterioration, said DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson.

"It's really been the past few weeks it reached a point of a concern," Carson said.

The eastern piers were built to last 50 years, so paying to repair and maintain them is no longer reasonable, she said.

The western piers also will need repairs. Adding 10 years to their life, through 2031, is expected to cost $10 million.

The piers opened on each side of the new Sunshine Skyway when it was built over Tampa Bay in 1987. They run parallel to each other. The eastern piers are those closest to the new skyway.

Reporter Steven Girardi may be reached at (727) 451-2333 or at sgirardi@tampatrib.com

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