MONTEREY COAST GUARD PIER REOPENS vs

CLOSED SINCE 9/11 FOR SECURITY REASONS, THE MONTEREY COAST GUARD PIER IS REOPENING TO PEDESTRIANS THURSDAY. WATERFRONT VISITORS WILL AGAIN BE ABLE TO WALK OUT AND GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HARBOR SEA LION COLONY. NEW FENCING AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WERE CONSTRUCTED TO INSURE VESSEL SECURITY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING PUBLIC ACCESS. ALSO A NEW LAUNCH RAMP WILL INCREASE THE LAUNCH CAPACITY OF THE HARBOR AND ALLOW DISABLED PEOPLE MORE ACCESS, AS WELL AS CLEAR UP PREVIOUS BOAT LAUNCHING SNARLS. THE BREAKWATER PIER WILL BE OPEN EACH DAY FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M. SOME UNANNOUNCED CLOSURES COULD TAKE PLACE DUE TO RESEARCH MISSIONS OR SPECIAL OPERATIONS. A DEDICATION CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW AT 4 P.M.