Shands Boat Ramp Temporarily Closed for Pier Demolition

The Shands Boat Ramp, bulkhead, and parking area will be temporarily closed starting June 16. Hurricane Matthew damaged the Shands Fishing Pier deck structure, railings, and timbers beyond repair in 2016. Crews are slated to begin removing the remaining piles and timbers in the upcoming days. Work is estimated to take three months to complete.

Clay County contracted with Hal Jones, a division of Vecellio & Grogan, Inc. in March to plan and execute the demolition. The parking area, bulkhead, and boat ramp will be temporarily closed beginning June 16 through September 16, 2022, during the demolition work.

Please visit https://www.claycountygov.com/community/parks-and-recreation/piers-boat-ramps-and-kayak-launches for a list of public piers, boat ramps, and kayak launches. 

What’s next?

There are currently no plans to rebuild the Shands Fishing Pier. The Florida Department of Transportation is anticipated to begin construction on a new SR 16 Bridge later this year with estimated completion in 2029. Once complete, the old Shands Bridge will be turned into a 672-foot fishing pier and recreation area for Clay County residents to enjoy.

 Clay County Archives Historic Photo of the Shands Pier