Anna Maria Selects Contractor to Rebuild City Pier Walkway Damaged by Hurricane Milton
ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Commission has approved a contract with Tampa Bay Marine Inc. to rebuild the City Pier walkway destroyed by Hurricane Milton, marking a major step forward in restoring one of the island’s most iconic landmarks.
During the Sept. 30 meeting, commissioners unanimously authorized Mayor Mark Short to sign the agreement with the Gibsonton-based marine construction firm. Tampa Bay Marine submitted the lowest bid of nine, at $4.64 million, with other proposals ranging from $5.3 million to $12 million. The selection followed a detailed review by city staff and the engineering firm George F. Young.
The decision lowers the estimated total cost of the pier replacement and repair project to between $6.2 million and $6.9 million, down from earlier estimates of $7 million to $9 million. The total includes previous demolition and engineering work, restoration of the pier buildings that survived the storm, and utility reconnections for water, sewage, and power.
Under the contract, Tampa Bay Marine is expected to complete construction of the new pier walkway by March 31. However, additional restoration of the T-end pier structures will continue beyond that date, with full reopening projected for fall 2026.
The rebuilt walkway will be supported by solid concrete pilings designed to the same structural standards as the T-end section, replacing the hollow spun concrete pilings used in the previous design completed in 2020. That earlier project, which followed damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017, cost approximately $6.8 million and included the construction of the T-end buildings.
Repairs to those existing buildings—home to the City Pier Grill and Mote Marine Science Education & Outreach Center before Hurricane Milton—will include roof and window repairs, new doors, decking work, and restroom restoration. A barge will be brought in within weeks to remove interior contents before those efforts begin.
While Mote Marine has not yet confirmed whether it will return to the pier, the City Pier Grill operator has expressed interest in resuming operations under a revised lease.
Funding for the project will be drawn from multiple sources, including a $1.5 million state appropriation and a potential $2 million contribution from Manatee County's tourist development tax revenues. The county’s participation is expected to depend on approval of a county-funded ferry landing adjacent to the new pier walkway. The city is also seeking up to $4 million in FEMA reimbursement, though the amount and timeline remain uncertain.
To cover immediate costs, the city’s new fiscal year budget includes a $4 million loan, part of which will also fund stormwater improvements and sidewalk installations along Pine Avenue.
Construction is expected to begin once the shipment of roughly 100 solid concrete pilings arrives, marking the next major milestone in rebuilding the City Pier and restoring a key community and tourism asset.
