OAK ISLAND, N.C. -- Residents in Oak Island are missing their old pier, but town leaders ensure the new one will live up to people's fond memories.
- Hurricane Matthew wiped out part of the pier in 2016, and now the town has $2.7 million to rebuild
- Money is also being used to improve pier house and restaurant connected to the pier
- An open house will be on Oct. 9 for the community to see the completed first half of it
"New benches, different kinds of lights for the turtles, some fishing lamps and those kinds of things in observation areas, so people can see what's in the water at night time," said David Kelly, Oak Island Town Manager.
Hurricane Matthew wiped out part of the pier in 2016, and now the town has $2.7 million to rebuild.
Kelly said while most of the money is going towards the pier, they are also using this as an opportunity to improve the pier house and restaurant connected to the pier.
"We put all new flooring in the whole building," said David Hatten, Oak Island Finance Director. "We're putting in new ceilings and we're updating some of the restaurant equipment."
Those working on the pier said they had to stop on the ground construction until November because of sea turtle nesting season. During this down time, they will be adding ramps and railing to finish up the first half of the pier.
"We're trying to get back to more of a family atmosphere," said Kelly. "So we're trying to draw everyone back to the pier."
The town will host an open house on Oct. 9 at 6:00 p.m. at 801 Ocean Drive for the community to see the completed first half of the pier and the new pier house and restaurant.
Kelly said they are on schedule to be done with the pier by the end of April 2019.
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