Aliso Pier Damage Too Costly to Fix, Report Concludes

Repairing the Aliso Pier, weakened by powerful winter storms that damaged its pilings, would be too costly, according to a consultant’s report released Friday. But the study also advises against immediate demolition of the landmark.

“If Orange County wants to have a pier at this location in the long term, it should not be this pier,” said the report, completed by Moffatt & Nichol Engineers of Long Beach. “The incidence of deterioration and need for repair will become more frequent as time goes by.”

Corrosion has been the pier’s enemy since it was last repaired in 1989. In addition, high surf that pounded the pier recently caused further weakening of the pilings.

Moffatt & Nichol recommended that the pier remain closed to the public as a safety measure in case of an earthquake. Immediate demolition of the pier was not recommended because of the “considerable advantage” of using the existing structure as a work platform to build a new one, said Moffatt’s consultant James R. Crumpley, a structural engineer.

One-fourth of the pilings are cracked or damaged in some way, the report said. At least three have major problems with exposed steel corrosion that has expanded and pushed out the concrete, causing huge gaps.

In addition, other pilings are heavily cracked and some are covered with rust stains, which indicate “major reinforcing corrosion.”

Conditions on the deck are not as bad, but there is evidence the concrete deck is beginning to flake and “spall,” a condition in which the reinforcing steel rebar corrodes, expands and pushes the concrete out.

Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents the area, said he will be meeting with county parks officials next week to discuss the damage and options for rebuilding the pier.

“I am convinced that this is a coastal asset that needs to be replaced,” he said. “And I don’t think the people who use the pier will be happy if there are delays in getting this problem solved.”

The Harbors, Beaches and Parks Division--which oversees the pier--has about $3.4 million in its reserves. But some of that money might already be earmarked for other projects, said Gary Burton, the county’s chief financial officer.

County officials have estimated it would cost $5 million to build a new pier.

The county has a $15-million contingency fund, but it remains unclear whether the Board of Supervisors would tap it to replace the pier.

“That fund was designed for a truly critical financial emergency,” Burton said. “I am not sure whether this fits that kind of contingency.”

Burton said his office will be working with Harbors, Beaches and Parks officials to see if there is money available in future budgets to help with rebuilding. Wilson said the county should also seek funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state government.

County officials said FEMA funds are available, but officials were waiting for the engineer’s report to help substantiate the damage with the county’s claim.

“Although the report [released Friday] is a preliminary assessment,” said Larry Paul, manager of coastal facilities for the county’s Harbors, Beaches and Parks Division, “it recommends to leave the pier up, which could give us time to decide how best to deal with whether we can go ahead and build a new pier.”

The county also intends to study which pier parts, such as metal guard railings and lighting, could be salvageable, Paul said.

Aliso Pier, a 660-foot structure with a distinctive diamond-shaped fishing area at the end, was built in 1971.