This SC coastal town’s pier was ravaged by hurricane. It’s on the verge of reopening.

Hurricane Matthew’s devastating path through Surfside Beach in 2016 is close to being swept into history, with a multilmillion renovation to its historic pier nearing completion.

The 800-foot-long walkway that helped solidify the Grand Strand town’s reputation as a tourism hub has been inaccessible for five years after half its length was sheared off by Matthew’s winds.

But by October, patrons should be able to walk across it again as the first phase of a FEMA-backed $15 million overhaul winds up.

A new committee established by Town Council will help town leaders determine how planned commercial space should be used. A project manager told Surfside Beach town leaders Feb. 22 retail areas should be ready for use by March 2023.

“The pier is the town’s focal point and is a crucial component to achieve the town’s vision of becoming the #1 family destination in South Carolina,” a resolution authorizing the committee’s creation states.

First erected in 1953, Surfside Beach’s pier has been rebuilt three times since, most recently in March 1993, according to the town’s website.

Jonathan Sigman of Charleston-based Collins Engineering said 70 percent of the pier’s trestle has been finished, along with portions of its podium.

Monuments and stairs will start being installed over the next 60 days as the project pushes forward.

“We’re solving problems together,” he told the Town Council.

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 9:10 AM.