Ventura Pier to remain closed after giant waves cause damage; no timetable to reopen

The Ventura Pier will remain closed indefinitely after it was damaged Monday by high surf, Ventura Fire Department officials said.

Assistant Chief Matt Brock said Tuesday that the pier was closed after at least one piling and support beams had been knocked down by high surf.

Waves are expected to die down Tuesday afternoon but until then, the National Weather Service said waves reached up to 15 feet at Ventura Harbor in the morning.

Brock said the pier would be closed for the remainder of Tuesday and likely much longer as Ventura Public Works personnel have yet to perform inspections of the damage.

“They will be doing inspections when the waves subside,” Brock said.

High surf has caused damage to the pier before, resulting in a closure of multiple months.

In December 2015, waves damaged a dozen pilings at the pier with more reported damaged during a high surf the following March.

At that time, waves destroyed 13 of the pier’s pilings and loosened 17 more. They also damaged 40 percent of the bracing.

The pier reopened in April 2016 after months of repairs on which the city spent up to $1.2 million, according to previous reports.

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