Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that a brand-new Skyway Fishing Pier will rise in Manatee County, while crews will renovate the aging pier in Pinellas County. He stood in front of the cameras and said, “This has been a major place for a lot of people. I’m glad we’re moving forward with that very quickly.”
Work kicks off with upgrades to parking and wider sidewalks along the seawall.
The need for action is clear: nearly six months ago, Hurricane Milton hammered the Manatee side of the pier, forcing authorities to close part of it for safety. Engineers found structural damage; that section has been off-limits ever since.
Construction crews plan to clear out unused sections on the Pinellas side and remove the damaged parts in Manatee County later this spring. The Pinellas County pier doesn’t escape attention, as DeSantis explained that planned improvements will add another two decades to its lifespan.
For now, crews are building temporary fishing piers to keep anglers coming back. The governor’s office described the project as an effort to restore one of Florida’s iconic spots for fishing, sightseeing, and outdoor fun.
DeSantis promised that the rebuild would move fast, returning this favorite destination to locals and visitors alike.
