Pier Approach Pilings Are in Bad Shape
There has been a lot of talk about the condition of the pier approach pilings so I went out to take a look. Nice day, light breeze, I headed the boat over to the pier approach and snapped a few frames.
If you look closely at the piers supporting the approach you can clearly see significant deterioration in the sides of the pilings. The rust is the steel reinforcement inside the concrete piling leaking out to the piling surface.
Some patches are clearly evident. Cracks are clearly visible along the pier caps.
The last picture is a pier at the Pier head. Notice the difference.
I'll leave the structural analysis to the engineers.
It may be time for the city to consider at least talking to some of the engineers and contractors who have a plan to rebuild the approach.
Let's get some estimates and suggestions formally on the table.
That would be the open-minded position to take.
e-mail doc at at:dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook friend request at Gene Webb.
Bob Wilson
11:03 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
I think you're a little too optimistic expecting Mayor Foster to be open-minded. He made up his mind that the Pier was to be demolished over two years ago when he pushed for a vote on it's destruction. He hasn't even considered refurbishment since then. He wants a smaller pier with no over-water buildings, he wants the subsidy reduced, no matter what the consequences are, including permanently removing 300+ jobs from downtown St. Petersburg and reducing the positive economic impact of the pier by tens of millions of dollars. He made up his mind, and he will do just about anything he can to get his way. Compromise is not something he likes to do, and changing his mind on the pier is extremely unlikely, no matter what the voters say.
http://billfosterwatch.blogspot.com/2012/05/fact-checking-mayor-bill-fosters-pier.html
Jeannie Cline
2:03 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
The pilings need replacing, so do the ones around the pyramid building, too. That is why Mayor Baker got the TIF money going, to replace the approach and bolster the pilings around the building. All of a sudden, this intent was hijacked by Foster and Curran and now, the supposed cost for this reconstruction is $85 million, according to them. Don't you think that Mayor Baker would have gotten an estimate of reconstruction before helping to establish the $50 mil figure? The city uses a refurb figure with a new approach widened by something like 30 feet. Widened? Huh?
The Friendship Trail bridge refurbishment estimates for a 2.5 mile long bridge are $40 mil.....and this approach that is 1/5 mile long is said to cost over $50 mil? Huh?
Is this "government speak"? Yes.
Peter Dunlay
9:42 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
The voters of St. Petersburg should take the steps necessary to have a recall vote of Mayor Foster ASAP. I question his motives and certainly, his ability to make decisions that affect all the Citizens of St. Pete. I don't know whose interests he's serving, but it's obviously not those of his Constituents!