Photo: ABC7 // YouTube
On Saturday, the Santa Cruz Wharf reopened to visitors and businesses. The development comes just two weeks after powerful waves caused over 100 feet of the structure to collapse into the ocean.
The initial incident occurred due to a massive run of swell that battered the West Coast at the end of December. Luckily, the end of the pier had already been closed to the public for renovations due to damage from previous storms. Even still, the collapse claimed a crane, a skid steer, a bathroom, and the Dolphin restaurant. In addition, three people fell into the water, one of which was able to climb out on their own and the other two were rescued by lifeguards.
The reopening was celebrated with a ceremony, during which Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley made a statement as KTVU reports. “First and foremost… what we want to do is let you know, let the community know, let the people all over Northern California know, it is safe to come to our wharf,” he said. He then went on to state that the pier has been examined “from beginning to end, wall to wall, side to side,” in order to confirm its stability, and that “What we know is that this wharf is sound and safe for you to be here, for our merchants to open back up, for people to come here and visit again, in what is one of the most cherished, and iconic, wooden wharves in the United States of America.”
However, the mayor was quick to clarify that this is most likely not the end of trouble for the structure. “It’s not a debatable point about whether or not climate change had a pretty serious impact on our wharf,” he added, “and I think going forward we should examine whether we want to put that part of the wharf back or not.”
