Pier Repair Plan Dealt a New Blow by Nature

The pilings and other pier supports had just arrived in Redondo Beach, scheduled for use this week to repair the damage to the city’s famous pier resulting from January’s storm. Then the ocean struck again.

It took only 15 minutes Saturday evening for wind-swept waves to claim a favored fishing area--not a single piling was left standing where the 155-foot promenade had stretched between the Monstad section of the pier and the horseshoe-shaped Fisherman’s Wharf area.

Officials on Monday estimated damage from the latest storm at $1.25 million. Winds up to 52 m.p.h. and waves up to 12 feet pounded telephone pole-sized pilings and wooden supports against sections of the pier.

“It’s almost like an aftershock to an earthquake. The first storm came in and weakened it and the second one finished it off,” said Ken Montgomery, city engineer and director of public works.

In January, a crippling combination of high tides, low barometric pressure and an Arctic storm inflicted $17 million in damage to King Harbor, which includes the Redondo Beach Pier. Although all but about a half dozen businesses were able to reopen within a week, the repairs and reconstruction were continuing, and the northern part of the horseshoe-shaped pier--the most heavily damaged--was not yet reopened.

Of the pier’s approximate 500 pilings, 20 were knocked out by the January storm, including three beneath the fishing promenade, Montgomery said.

“We were going to drive the pilings in this week,” he said. “It’s just a shame, our timing’s a bit late.”

The latest storm knocked out another 31 pilings, including 21 that supported the fishing deck.

In addition, the storm-tossed pilings, braces and supports damaged the pier’s decking in some places this time, unlike the January storm, which damaged only the supports.

The kitchen floor and appliances of the Fish and Chips coffee shop fell into the ocean. The remainder of the restaurant’s floor now rises and falls like gentle waves.

“This was another cheap shot by nature,” said Harbor Director Sheila Schoettger.

But Tony Trutanich, who owns Fish and Chips and two other pier restaurants, was taking the latest blow matter-of-factly.

“We’ve gone through a hundred storms in the 35 years we’ve been here, and we’ve never been knocked out of business until recently,” he said. “Initially the shock was devastating, but not now. We’re cool. “

Although Fish and Chips may be closed for up to three months while the deck beneath the pier is repaired, Trutanich’s two large restaurants--Tony’s Fish Market and Old Tony’s--are expected to open in a few days, along with other damaged pier businesses, depending on when the utilities are repaired.

Redondo Beach officials said they will attempt to amend federal and state government damage estimates from January to include the $1-million damage to public property inflicted Saturday, $500,000 of that to the 5-year-old fishing promenade, which was built with the help of Department of Fish and Game funds.

The federal and state governments already have agreed to help pay for the $3-million damage to public property in the January storm.

While the Redondo Beach City Council decides whether to rebuild the fishing promenade, Montgomery said, fishermen will be able to cast their lines from the southern side of Monstad Pier area and portions of the horseshoe pier.

Although the fishing promenade has been a popular spot among anglers, regulars predicted that the enthusiasts will readily move to the new area.

The pier, which has been closed since about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, when about 500 people were evacuated, will reopen today.