City officials on Thursday officially reopened nearly 1,700 feet of the Mission Beach seawall that was replaced between San Fernando Place and Ventura Place.
Work on the nearly 91-year-old structure that separates the boardwalk and the beach in front of Belmont Park began last fall and cost $5.5 million to complete.
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Around $700,000 of the cost stemmed from the boardwalk's 1998 designation as a national historic resource, requiring monitoring, and matching things like the original dimensions, light fixtures, wall texture and color, and concrete scoring — some of which was unanticipated when the project was bid out, according to city staff.
"It's very exciting to see the restoration of the iconic seawall," said Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, who represents San Diego's beach neighborhoods. "This complements the revitalization of Belmont Park and provides an amazing gateway for visitors and residents to one of San Diego's top beach destinations."
Workers installed 26 LED light fixtures, built three curb ramps for the disabled and added two new wheelchair accessible picnic tables in the park area adjacent to the south parking lot.
The Mission Beach Boardwalk first opened on May 28, 1925, and will celebrate its 91st anniversary on Saturday, according to the mayor's office.
