The popular fishing pier at the Cape Henlopen State Park has been closed after a structural inspection found an alarming rate of deterioration.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that it’s just the latest in a series of emergency closings for the World War II landmark that was originally 18-hundred feet long.
As for when or if the pier might be reopened Division of Parks and Recreation officials say they are not certain.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says that at least 24 wooden piles that support the pier need to be replaced.
This would be the first in a series of fixes for the 125 piles.
If the pier were replaced it’s estimated that it would cost $15 million while piecemeal replacement would run anywhere from $4-thousand to $6-thousand for each piling.
There have been similar closings reaching back to 2006.
