Demolition of the Dan Russell Panama City Beach City Pier is underway, with a new replacement pier scheduled to open in the spring of next year.

Hurricanes ravaged the concrete structure, and F-E-M-A will pay almost all of the 7.7 million dollar cost of replacing it. The city's part of the bill comes to less than a quarter million dollars.

A Pembroke Pines contractor is handling the project, which calls for the removal of the old concrete pier, and the construction of a new 1500 foot long facility. The old concession building is also being removed.

The entire project is scheduled to take 15 months. The new pier will have a concrete frame with wooden blowout panels.