GULF SHORES, Ala. — Construction of the Gulf State Park Pier is in the homestretch and it’s coming back bigger and better than before.

The new pier, located at 20800 E. Beach Blvd, will be the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. Maxing out at 1,512 feet long, 20 feet wide and 20 feet high, the new pier will be a fisherman’s dream.

Assistant superintendent Trey Myers said the pier is 75 percent done. Work began in December of 2007, and Thompson Engineering of Mobile was given 18 months to do the project.

At completion the new pier will have two bathroom facilities, a tackle shop and a concession stand with inside and outside dinning. The facility will also be handicap accessible.

There will be a 65-foot octagon that will sit over the coast’s second sand bar, which will offer prime fishing for cobia, king mackerel and tarpon, according to information from the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Mike Foster, vice president of marketing for the CVB, said there will be artificial reefs added to attract more fish. The reefs will also be accessible by boat.

The revival of the park pier will give the area another amenity to attract guests and residents, according to Foster.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” he said. “Every time you add another feature to the area it's a plus.”

Both Foster and Myers said they are constantly receiving questions about the pier and its estimated time of opening.

The original pier, built in 1968, was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and has been out of service for almost five years.

Since the old pier was going to cost just under the price tag to fully replace the pier Myers said the state decided to do a complete overhaul.

The pier has been designed to break away with storm surge. Originally completely concrete, the updated pier has a concrete frame but has wood planks.

“The wave action crashing from underneath will not hit concrete, it will hit those wood panels and blow them out,” Myers said. “Then the waves can come through and save the actual structure.”

The height will hopefully keep the pier above storm surge, and it has been built to sustain a higher category storm.

Progress was moving fast, and last year the park hoped to open sooner. But hurricanes Ike and Gustav created more trouble for the pier and set construction back.

In May the park plans to open up the pier just in time for the summer season.