Bradenton Beach pier construction hurting restaurant business

BRADENTON BEACH --

The construction of the new Bridge Street Pier is finally underway in Bradenton Beach.

After about a year of the pier being closed due to storm damage and not finding the right contractor, the project is going strong. However, the large equipment, noise and smell is hurting the pier's restaurant, Cast N Cage.

I see it as an ugly eye soar right now, said owner of Cast N Cage Roland Pena.

Pena has to look at the pier construction every day.

On the weekends construction stops but during the week Pena says it's noisy, smelly and scares customers away.

A lot of pounding, wood-cutting," said Pena. "You know, fumes coming off of the chainsaws and the fumes coming off the big cranes coming off behind us.

Mitchell Sofia was dining at the restaurant on Saturday and said since the view is now a construction site, he and his wife decided to eat inside.

You know the ambiance isnt as good when you are facing that way because of the pier construction," said Sofia. "We figured we would get a nice view of the bay on this end.

Mark Thornton almost didnt come for lunch.

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Bradenton Beach pier construction hurting restaurant business