Parts of Skyway fishing piers to close

Parts of the Sunshine Skyway fishing piers that date back to the 1950s will close Aug. 29. Other portions of the piers, on both the Pinellas County and Manatee County sides of Tampa Bay, will remain open.

The popular fishing piers on the north and south ends of Tampa Bay are remnants of the old Sunshine Skyway, which fell when it was struck by a barge during a storm in 1980. The skyway was rebuilt to withstand a similar disaster, and the remains of the old bridge were turned into the fishing piers.

But the eastern portions of the fishing piers are now past their life expectancy and need to be closed, the state Department of Transportation said today.

The western portions, which were built in 1971, are in better shape and can remain open. Workers will begin a construction project to allow for two-way traffic on the western portions of the fishing piers. This could be done as soon as Aug. 29, said DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson.

The fishing piers will remain open 24 hours a day, as they are now. Large trucks and recreational vehicles will not be allowed on the piers because of the tighter configuration, but parking will be provided nearby.

-- Curtis Krueger, Times Staff Writer