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Here’s why the Ponce Inlet jetty remains closed nearly 1 year since Ian

PONCE INLET, Fla. — The Ponce Inlet jetty is still closed almost a year after Hurricane Ian.

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People who live there are disappointed it has taken so long for something to be done.

The long wooden walkway that leads you down to the jetty has been rebuilt and reopened since June. However, a no trespass sign that leads to the spot that everybody wants to see: a walkway to the ocean.

People who live there said they’ve waited too long for it to reopen.

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“It’s kind of lame, honestly,” Jaiden Flynn said. “I feel like they should have fixed that by now.”

In an email, Volusia County’s Coastal Director Jessica Fentress told Channel 9 that the county has received the railing for the walkway, but it needs further customization.

The county is also still in the process of coordinating with contractors to get the concrete work around the jetty finished.

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Fentress said the project is partially reimbursable by FEMA, and the rest will be paid through the inlet fund, which is generated from entrance fees at the parks.

Fentress also said she can’t give an exact timeline on when the jetty will reopen because weather and ocean conditions do play a role in the repairs.

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

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