I think part of the problem with completion was money $$$.
The state originally planned to use Mineral Management Service (MMS) money (money given by the feds from offshore oil production) to build the pier. Last year the feds said the money was supposed to be used for things like wetlands and wildlife habitat and denied the project. Negotiations have been going on for a while. A few months ago it looked like things had been worked out for the State to get the money but the funds were just released. Since the state also just announced a new wildlife habitat area, there have probably been some behind the scenes wranglings (maybe involving our congresscritters) that they don't really want publicized.
There were articles in the Mobile Press Register and the ClantonAdvertiser this week that said MMS money had been made available to "build a new pier". More accurately the article probably should have said "to finish the pier".
http://www.al.com/opinion/press-regi...xml&coll=3
http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/new...-conservation/