OAK ISLAND, N.C. -- Work on the Oak Island pier continues on Tuesday morning.

The structure was damaged by Hurricane Matthew back in 2016 and is now being torn down to make way for a new one.

Officials say, in all, the project costs $2.6 million.

A big portion of that is being paid for by federal and state funds.

This week, crews say they will be driving the pilings down.

"Once the new pilings are in place, then we start framing in between. Once we get partial framing in, then we start to demo what's there," said Andrew Law, TD Eure Marine Construction.

With the latest phase of construction, the public is being asked to stay away from the pier while large barricades are in place.