Crews put temporary fixes on Capitola Wharf hoping to re-open next weekend

CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION) The Capitola Wharf remains closed to the public, Friday. It's still unknown how long it will stay blocked off.

On New Years Day, two pilings broke from the powerful crashing waves. The support pilings that snapped are right underneath a small hoist that is used to launch boats. That caused the hoist to sag and is in danger of falling in the Ocean.

“Usually we’re just able to make quicker repairs than this. It's a little more detailed then we’ve done in the past,” Capitola Public Works Director Steve Jesberg said.

Friday, crews brought in a large support beam that will be placed on the failed portion to support the weight of the hoist and concrete slab underneath it.

As the contractors worked, several employees from the Wharf House restaurant had some cleaning to do, because Wednesday as soon as those beams snapped they all had to run off the wharf.

“We said, 'alright everybody out'. People in the restaurant just jumped out and ran,” Restaurant manager Patty Cameron said.

Now the dozen employees from the Wharf House wait in limbo, without pay, hoping it’ll open back up soon.

“As long as they open soon it won’t be bad financially,” Tracy Hicks said.

The Capitola Wharf's been here for 162 years. It's been rebuilt multiple times since then, and now it's due for another restoration.

“It's a Capitola icon. It hasn’t been renovated in many years. About every 20 to 30 years it has to have a major renovation,” Capitola Historical Museum Curator Frank Perry said.

Voters passed a tax hike that will fund a restoration to the wharf. The city said that will begin in the next one or two years.

“A large scale $7 million rehabilitation process is scheduled. We’re in the planning and permitting part of that right now," Jesberg said.

Jesberg said the Wharf will be re-opened at the earliest next weekend. However, it is still unknown the exact time.