First Look Inside the New Wildwood Crest Fishing Pier Plans
For years, the Heather Road Fishing Pier, or what we call the Wildwood Crest Fishing Pier, has ended abruptly in sand, its original purpose quietly erased by a shifting shoreline and the steady growth of the dune system.
That is about to change.
With county funding now secured and final design plans approved, Wildwood Crest is preparing for a full reconstruction and major expansion of the Heather Road Fishing Pier, a project that will send the structure back into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in decades.
The Wildwood Video Archive had gotten our hands on the blueprints and we decided to break it down for you and to fly the seagull (drone) out to show you where it is going to end up.
You can watch that video at the bottom of this article.
At a December 16 meeting, the Cape May County Board of Commissioners approved a shared services agreement with the Borough of Wildwood Crest, committing up to 2.5 million dollars in county funding toward the project.
The total cost is estimated at 7.37 million dollars, with additional funding coming from a New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Boardwalk Preservation Fund grant and local matching funds from the borough.
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According to the approved blueprints, the rebuilt pier will extend approximately 1,250 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. That length places the terminal end well beyond the dune system and surf zone, restoring the pier’s original function as a fishing platform while also reestablishing it as a destination for sightseeing and recreation.
The structure will be widened to 12 feet along its length, a change that improves pedestrian flow during busy summer months and allows the pier to accommodate emergency and public safety vehicles.
It will also be elevated to align with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dune system, a requirement that balances public access with long term shoreline protection.
That project, of an island wide dune system, is still on hold as things play out in New Jersey Courts.
At the ocean end, the plans show a widened terminal area, often referred to as a bump out. This space is intended to give anglers more room while separating fishing activity from foot traffic, reducing congestion and improving safety for everyone using the pier.
The project also includes a range of modern amenities integrated directly into the design. New decking, upgraded lighting, benches, water stations, and interpretive signage are all planned, creating a pier built not just to last, but to handle heavy seasonal use in a harsh coastal environment.
The New Lights will be a bit different than the ones we see today. These will be bollards.
Environmental reviews completed as part of the approval process concluded that the project will not adversely impact protected coastal habitats or wildlife.
The good news is that all the DEP CAFRA’S and other studies had already been done in advance, which was one of the requirements to even get the funding from Cape May County.
County officials have framed the project as a regional investment rather than a purely local one.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, pending final state permitting, with completion targeted for summer 2026.
When it does, the Heather Road Fishing Pier will once again extend into open water, restoring a long missing connection between Wildwood Crest and the Atlantic Ocean. What was once a symbol of a changing coastline is set to become a reflection of how the borough is adapting to it.
Below is our video of the pier. Before you watch please do consider subscribing to our Youtube Channel.