Project Watch
The Fort Myers Beach Pier
Not yet. The pier has been gone since Hurricane Ian destroyed it on September 28, 2022. The rebuild is now funded, contracted, and permitted — with completion expected in 2027.
Status verified July 21, 2026.
Where the project stands
The island's most-asked-about project. Lee County awarded an $11.7 million construction contract in April 2026, federal permits were announced as approved at the end of June 2026, and the rebuilt pier is expected to take about a year to build — putting completion in 2027. The replacement is meaningfully bigger than the pier Ian destroyed.
The specifics
| Length | 1,000 feet (about 70% longer than the old pier) |
|---|---|
| Width | 12 feet (about 50% wider) |
| Contract | $11.7 million |
| Contractor | RJ Gorman Contracting LLC |
| Funding | $7M Tourist Development Tax (visitor 'bed tax') + $4.7M Florida Division of Emergency Management |
| Federal permits | Announced approved, June 30, 2026 |
| Expected completion | 2027 |
| Amenities | ADA access, bench seating, turtle-friendly lighting |
Why the pier matters more than a pier
For an island whose economy runs on visitors, the pier is not just a walkway — it was the visual signature of Fort Myers Beach and the anchor of the Times Square district around it. Its absence is the most visible reminder of what Ian took; its return is the milestone most residents use as shorthand for “the island is back.”
It's also worth noting how it's being paid for: visitors are funding it. The $7 million Tourist Development Tax share comes from the bed tax on accommodations, and the remaining $4.7 million comes from the state — not from a special assessment on island property owners.
What could still move the date
We publish the county's expected timeline, not a promise. Coastal marine construction is genuinely weather-dependent, and permitting, materials, and sea conditions have all moved timelines on projects like this before. Treat 2027 as the current plan of record and check the sources below for the latest.
Quick answers
- Is the Fort Myers Beach Pier open?
- No. The pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and has not reopened. Lee County awarded an $11.7 million construction contract in April 2026, and federal permits were announced as approved on June 30, 2026. Construction is expected to take about a year, putting completion in 2027.
- When will the new Fort Myers Beach Pier be finished?
- 2027. Reporting indicates construction beginning in summer 2026 with roughly a one-year build. As with any coastal construction project, weather, permitting, and supply conditions can move that date — we update this page as Lee County publishes new information.
- How big will the new pier be?
- About 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide — roughly 70% longer and 50% wider than the pier Hurricane Ian destroyed. It will include ADA access, bench seating, and turtle-friendly lighting.
- Who is paying for the Fort Myers Beach Pier rebuild?
- The $11.7 million contract is funded by $7 million from Tourist Development Taxes — the 'bed tax' paid by visitors staying in local accommodations — and $4.7 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. It is not funded by a special assessment on island property owners.
- Who is building the new pier?
- RJ Gorman Contracting LLC, under a contract awarded by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in April 2026.
Sources
The pier is one of several projects we track. See everything happening on the island right now, or watch construction island-wide on the permit tracker.