Lee County is set to submit a permit request to the Army Corps of Engineers for a new pier on Fort Myers Beach. This includes considering environmental concerns, economic factors and the public interest to decide if a permit should be granted. The pier remains in the same condition it was left in after being destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. In June 2024, Lee County commissioners approved the expansion of the pier. Construction is set to begin in late 2026. Once completed, the pier will be 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide. The new design has increased the project’s cost by $11.5 million, WINK News reports.