GREEN COVE SPRINGS – County staff met with contractors at an initial preconstruction meeting for the removal of the old Shands Pier in Green Cove Springs. The pier was damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and must be completely removed for the community’s safety. During the coordination meeting, contractors and staff reviewed the current condition of the pier, the specialized requirements and equipment needed for removal, and the timing of the project.
The Contractor, Hal Jones, A Division of Vecellio & Grogan, Inc., was awarded the bid for demolition and removal of the remaining piles and timber.  
The parking area, bulkhead, and boat ramp will need to be temporarily closed during the demolition work, which is anticipated to be complete by fall 2022.  
“Commissioners are pleased to see this project underway,” BCC Chairman Wayne Bolla said. “We know there is a long history of families meeting and fishing at the Shands Pier, and while it was sad to see it damaged so severely by Hurricane Matthew, this is the first step toward improving accessibility to this public waterfront recreation area.”  
The Shands Pier was originally a wooden bridge built in 1928 connecting St. Johns and Clay Counties. After the construction of the concrete Shands Bridge in 1961, the state gave the old wooden bridge to Clay County and the end of the bridge was left in place as a fishing pier.