Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier closed until next winter

The Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier is projected to reopen next winter, Delaware Department of Natural Resources officials said, missing the summer season.

The pier went out of commission last October when an inspection found it was in immediate need of repair due to deterioration. The landmark was built by the Army during the World War II era, and was originally 1,800 feet long.

Environmental Program Administrator Matthew Chesser said the department has worked with an engineering firm since December to create plans and specifications to repair 125 pilings of the pier. The repair will add a few years of life to the pier, Chesser said, while final decisions are made about the location and scope of a replacement.

Design and permitting for the repair are scheduled to be completed by late spring, he added, with construction scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall. Water needs to be at least 40 degrees to complete the jacketing-type repair needed for the pier, making timing tricky, he said.

Additionally, the repairs must be permitted by both the state and the Army Corps of Engineering, which can take six to nine months Chesser said.

“We have been looking at solutions for additional funding and are doing everything we can to shorten these time frames as much as possible,” Chesser said in an email.