/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/REBG3RWEPQI6TKTRIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Update on the construction of the St. Petersburg Pier District. Aerial photographs of the construction site. Photo courtesy of Skanksa USA")
Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — Watch for a bit of inconvenience in coming weeks, as work on the new 26-acre Pier District moves closer to the edge of downtown.
The perimeter construction fence for the project will move close to Bay Shore Drive NE. And while the St. Petersburg Museum of History on the pier approach will remain open, access to it will change. To the east, the Dolphin parking lot will be closed.
Meanwhile, most of the pilings for the pier deck are in place. Of the 425 piles needed for that portion of the project, 328 are in, and 33,000 square feet, or 23 percent, of the deck has been poured.
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Here's what to expect as the $76 million Pier District takes shape:
April
• The City Council will vote on a contract not to exceed $700,000 with Earthscape of Ontario, Canada. Earthscape will design and build custom play equipment for the children's playground on the pier approach. The play area will be in the vicinity of the former Dolphin parking lot, west of the new Pier Plaza.
• Pile driving for the deck should be complete.
May
•The pier deck is scheduled to be finished.
•Construction of the pier approach will begin. The construction fence will be moved about 50 feet east of Bay Shore Drive NE, cross Second Avenue N, and run close to the sidewalk on both sides of Second Avenue N. There will be access to the St. Petersburg Museum of History and to the marina boat slips on the north side of the central basin. Work will begin on new utilities and parking.
August
•Pile work will begin for Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille in the Pelican parking lot.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Doc Ford's restaurant chosen for St. Petersburg pier site
March 2019
•The pier head building is expected to be finished.
Summer 2019
•Tenant build-out should be complete.
•Pier District construction concludes.
Early Fall
•Grand opening
Contact Waveney Ann Moore at wmoore@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2283. Follow @wmooretimes.
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