Dredging for the St. Augustine Beach renourishment project is scheduled to conclude this month, weather pending, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District reports.
Work has been completed from Pope Road to the St. Augustine Beach pier and sand placement from the pier to 15th to 9th Streets is currently underway.
Pope Road is an equipment staging area and will remain closed for the duration of the project, USACE said.
Marinex Construction, the contractor, will place approximately 800,000 cubic yards of sand from the navigation channel and ebb shoal on the eroded beach. This project will be constructed from 1,300 feet north of the southern limits of Anastasia State Park to 9th Street in St. Augustine Beach.
The purpose of this project is to mitigate for down-drift shoreline impacts caused by the federal navigation channel at St. Augustine Inlet, and provide storm damage reduction for upland development. The goal of engineered shore projects is to reduce risk and promote coastal resilience.
The federal project, led by USACE, is in partnership with St. Johns County. The cost share is 80.5% federal and 19.5% non-federal.
Public safety
USACE also stressed the importance of public safety around work areas for the ongoing renourishment project. The public is urged to stay out of active construction zones, and particularly to not cut across from behind to access the surf.
“Public safety is one of our highest priorities and it is imperative people stay and remain out of work areas to avoid injury, ” said Jason Harrah, project manager.
According to USACE’s latest release, the beach remains open to residents and visitors outside the work areas.