Piers in line for major work

NEWPORT BEACH -- The city’s two piers may soon undergo the biggest

upgrades in their 60-year lives -- work that will close each pier for

about two months early next year.

The council is expected to approve a $2.7-million contract with the

John S. Meek Co. that will add about 20 years to the piers’ lives and

include a number of changes to beautify the aging icons.

If the work gets the council’s OK, Balboa Pier will probably be closed

during January and February. Ruby’s restaurant on the pier will close

during that time. Newport Pier is expected to close during February and

March, and with it Newport Pier Seafood will also likely close.

New signs, gates and a new wooden handrail to replace the rusting pipe

rail will be some of the visible improvements.

But the most striking new feature will be smooth concrete replacing

the existing wooden surface over both piers.

“Our goals are to make the piers more attractive to the public, to

extend the life and increase their load-carrying captivity,” said Lloyd

Dalton, an engineer for the city’s Public Works Department. “We’re going

to make them look like new again.”

Dalton said the concrete addition will make the piers friendlier to

wheelchairs and strollers while also strengthening the surface. Pipes

that carry electricity, gas and water to the piers and their restaurants

will be moved out of sight into a trench in the pier.

He added that the city worked with managers of the piers’ two

restaurants, timing the work with the businesses’ slowest months.

Councilman Tod Ridgeway said he expects that the restaurants won’t

have to pay rent to the city while the piers are closed.

But Michael Yu, manager of Newport Pier Seafood, said he’s worried

about how the closure will affect his business and employees.

“I hope it’s not going to take too long,” Yu said, adding that the

restaurant averages about $50,000 a month in January, February and March.

He said about 30 employees will be out of work while the pier is closed.

Ridgeway said the city will help the restaurants as much as possible.

“Our piers are used mostly by tourists, so this work will be of the

biggest benefit to the tourist trade and those businesses,” Ridgeway

said. “We’ll mitigate the restaurants’ loss to the best of our ability.”

Locals who fish off the piers every day are likely to be affected

most. Ridgeway said many will likely go to the Huntington Beach Pier

during that time.

Money for the renovation will come mainly from a lawsuit settled three

years ago with American Trader. The $4.7-million settlement was for

damage caused by an oil spill in 1990. That money was earmarked for

improvements to the city’s coastline.

FACT BOX

Newport Beach’s two piers, Balboa and Newport piers, are about 60

years old. They’re both about 1,000 feet long and stretch from 24 to 30

feet wide. Changes coming down the pike for the piers include:

* The timber and concrete surfaces of the piers will be paved to

create a more attractive surface and to improve access for wheelchairs

and strollers.

* Visible electric, gas, phone and water lines will be hidden in

2-foot-wide trenches in the piers.

* Pier gates and signs will be replaced.

* About 15 defective piles will be replaced, along with defective

bolts and braces.

* Reinforcements will add about 20 years to the piers’ lives and will

improve their chances of withstanding storms.

* A 4-inch fire main installed on Balboa Pier is expected to improve

fire safety.

* The Lifeguard Workshop under Newport Pier will get repairs to its

roof.

* Lifeguard boat access under the Newport Pier will be improved.

* The rusting pipe handrail on Balboa Pier will be replaced with a new

wooden handrail.

* Fishing benches and cutting boards will be replaced.

* Signs prohibiting vehicles that exceed 3 tons will be installed.