Nearly two weeks after a section of the well-known tourist destination fell into the ocean under roaring waves, officials said the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf will reopen this weekend.
The City of Santa Cruz said on Thursday that a ceremony would be held at 10 a.m. to commemorate the wharf’s official reopening on Saturday. Since the end of the building fell on December 23, when the National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning, the wharf and its numerous enterprises have been shuttered.
The public is welcome to attend the reopening event, which will also be aired live on the city’s Facebook page.
A recent sonar and engineering evaluation concluded the wharf was safe to reopen, the city said in a press release. Although they were not endangering any area of the wharf, a crane and a skid-steer loader that were on the section of the wharf that fell are still in the ocean.
According to a prepared statement from Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker, “Wharf contractor Power Engineering Construction collaborated with Pioneer for an ocean sonar scan to locate their heavy equipment that fell into the ocean on December 23.” “We have successfully located the three pieces of heavy equipment. The crane and a skid steer are now in the water at a safe distance from the dock and will be marked with a buoy tomorrow to notify others of their whereabouts, while a skiff washed up on the beach and is secured.”
According to a statement from U.S. Coast Guard specialist Francis Schiano, “the crane was located approximately 160 feet southeast of the collapsed face of the Wharf, which is a safe distance away.” “The crane is stuck at this time and not moving around.”
The area of the wharf that was impacted by the fall will continue to be closed, the city stated.
“The community’s response to the wharf collapse on Dec. 23 is a testament to our City’s perseverance and resilience,” said Scott Newsome, a member of the City Council. “Seeing city staff, residents, and business owners come together to quickly recover from this incident is a beautiful example of what keeps Santa Cruz strong.”
According to the city, automobiles will have to turn around at the east parking lot on Saturday since they are not allowed to travel past Marini’s Candies.
The structure’s future is posing some difficult questions for city officials. During a news conference a week ago, the mayor of the city was asked about plans to reconstruct the 150-foot stretch, and he conceded that, given the increasing hazards posed by climate change, that is still an open subject.
“It would be irresponsible of us to not ask what is the right thing to do here,” stated Fred Keely, the mayor of Santa Cruz. “But to say we’re simply going to put it back is, I think, frankly much more risky and irresponsible than having a very serious conversation.”
To support local nonprofits helping those affected by the wharf closure, Santa Cruz County officials last week established a disaster fund. The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County website is where donations can be made.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.