SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON) -- The far south end of the Santa Cruz Wharf reopened on Wednesday for the first time since waves battered the iconic landmark and caused a 150-foot-long section to collapse. With resident sea lions barking below, dancers exercised on top of the repaired section during th e city's Wharf End Interim Repairs project celebration Wednesday afternoon. Dancers are seen on a newly repaired section of the Santa Cruz Wharf on April 29, 2026. (KRON4 Photo) "With the project complete, residents and visitors can once again walk to the very end of the Wharf and enjoy sweeping views of Monterey Bay," a city spokesperson wrote. "The repairs mark an important milestone in maintaining one of Santa Cruz’s most iconic and well-loved community spaces." The wooden wharf is more than 100 years old and extends a half mile over the ocean. In December of 2024, Santa Cruz’s largest swell in 30 years generated waves that sent pilings, three construction workers, a crane, and a bathroom tumbling into the ocean below. The Santa Cruz Wharf is seen after the section of the pier fell into the ocean during high surf the previous day, in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) The south end of the wharf collapsed within seconds, witnesses said. Shards of broken pilings and other debris washed up along several miles of beaches. A section of the Santa Cruz Wharf that collapsed into the Pacific Ocean is seen at a nearby beach amidst heavy surf in Santa Cruz, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) Re-construction began in November 2025 and was recently completed. Enormous sea lion named Chonkers seen on San Francisco pier City leaders said the repairs reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to maintaining critical coastal infrastructure while preserving the wharf’s character. “The wharf is where our community comes together to connect, enjoy the coast, and experience everything that makes Santa Cruz special,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tony Elliot. ...read more read less