The damaged Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is set to reopen Saturday, less than two weeks after powerful waves caused a portion of it to collapse into the ocean. The reopening is much earlier than officials first thought after a section at the end of the wharf that was under construction collapsed into the Pacific Ocean and washed away during a strong storm Dec. 23. Three workers who went into the water with the debris were rescued. Several businesses have been closed since the collapse and subsequent wharf closure, and city officials initially said it could take weeks, if not months, to partially reopen the wharf. Those businesses also were slated to reopen Saturday, according to a report from KSBW-TV. Santa Cruz Dec 23, 2024 Santa Cruz Wharf collapse: Workers rescued, damage due to large swell Santa Cruz Dec 24, 2024 Santa Cruz wharf to remain closed while officials assess damage Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker told KSBW the wharf has been deemed safe to reopen after a recently completed sonar and engineering assessment, which was reviewed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The portion of the wharf affected by the collapse will remain closed. The city will hold a public reopening ceremony starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the wharf staging area, KSBW reported.