SURFSIDE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The Town of Surfside Beach has announced the first phase of repairing the town’s pier and a timeline of when the work could be complete.
The Surfside Beach Pier was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew’s high winds and heavy rain Oct. 8. More than 50 feet of the pier was lost, and many have questioned when repairs would begin.
Officials released information regarding the pier’s repair on the town’s Facebook page Friday morning.
According to the post, the Town of Surfside Beach is “accepting bids from consulting firms with proven expertise in the FEMA grant program and structures in water. The bid awardee will work with the Town and FEMA to develop a plan for damage assessment and restoration costs associated with rebuilding the pier.”
Businesses can find more information on how to make a bid on the town’s website.
The town goes on to say that a FEMA Project Specialist has not yet been assigned to the pier project, but it is Surfside Beach’s hope that a FEMA representative will be allocated soon and a meeting with the specialist and the bid awardee can be held in January.
Surfside Beach residents will have an opportunity to give their input on the rebuild once the FEMA negotiation process is finished, according to the post, with a construction RFP to follow.
Surfside Beach officials write that they hope construction to the pier can begin in October 2017, which will allow for completion of the project by summer 2018. That timeline, however, largely depends on FEMA and could change.
The town vows to release more information as it becomes available on the repairs to Surfside Beach Pier.