The North and South Piers in South Haven have reopened with a new look after being closed for construction.
City manager Kate Hosier tells us the Department of Public Works installed new pier gates to replace the used barricades and chains.
“The idea came out of a beach safety committee that was formed and discussed the number of beach safety improvements,” Hosier says. “The city adopted a beach and pier safety ordinance in 2022. As part of that ordinance, it does allow for fines to be levied if people access a closed pier that’s been closed for either safety reasons or whatnot.”
These gates will be utilized during red flag days, which indicate dangerous wind conditions with large waves, or winter when ice builds up.
“The conditions for closing the pier are varied,” Hosier says. “We want to make sure that it’s safe to access, either with wind or waves. But we also have closed them because of maybe an event.”
Contractors plan to return at a later date to paint the gates.
