County Orders Damaged Pier at Venice Closed

The Venice Pier, used primarily by fishermen, was ordered closed Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors after county engineers discovered apparently serious structural problems.

County lifeguards noticed the deterioration late last week. On Tuesday, inspectors said a 120-foot stretch of the 1,200-foot pier at the foot of Washington Avenue was damaged where chunks of concrete had fallen to the sand below. Lifeguards said the problems apparently had been exacerbated by Monday night’s rain.

The beach beneath the pier was fenced off and bulldozers were used to build a sand berm blocking public access. Officials said the pier be closed until further notice.

The pier, built more than 20 years ago, has been operated for several years by the county. It was closed in 1983 for repairs after waves tore out a concrete ramp to the pier and cut utility lines.