SARAH
CONSTANT SHORES, LLC
Ocean View Fishing Pier Construction
Norfolk, Virginia
Originally built in 1947, Harrison’s Fishing Pier was one of several cherished icons of Ocean View that was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. Ocean View was in the midst of a major redevelopment when Hurricane Isabel’s fierce winds and twenty-foot waves ravaged the structure and tossed its planks and pilings up and down the Ocean View Beach. Harrison’s Fishing Pier, a landmark at the base of Willoughby Spit, was completely demolished.
After assessing the damaged pier, the developers contracted Precon Marine, Inc. to rebuild the pier and renamed it Ocean View Fishing Pier. Like the original Harrison’s pier, the new pier has a 16’ wide wooden deck and railings; but instead of timber pilings, it was constructed of 14” concrete pilings and crossings enhancing the marine environment for fishing habitats. The pier includes a 116’ x 48’ Tee Section and two boat launch floating docks. It also sits seven feet higher off the water than Harrison’s did and extends 1690 feet into the Chesapeake Bay, making it one of the longest piers on the East Coast.
Since the new pier was constructed in the same location as the old pier, Precon Marine first demolished the existing platform of the old Harrison’s Fishing Pier, including the removal of approximately 65 timber piles. In order to drive concrete piles in the shallow end of the pier, Precon Marine built an access trestle and utilized an 80-ton crane to assist in piledriving operations. Once in deeper waters, Precon Marine proceeded to work off a 200-ton crane barge driving approximately 150 concrete piles.
The project was completed
February 2006.