Flagler County officials are informing residents that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District awarded a $27 million contract Thursday (May 2) to Weeks Marine for the initial construction of its Coastal Storm Risk Management project.
“This has been a long process, and we are extremely grateful to the Army Corps (ACOE) for their diligent work on our behalf,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “They are also providing 65% of the total project costs, and for that we are thankful for the 2.6-mile federal project (South 6th Street to South 28th Street in Flagler Beach) as it is defined ‘critically eroded Atlantic shoreline.’”
Additional sections of the coastline will also be renourished both north and south of the federal project, for a total of 3.5 miles, as part of this contract using non-federal funding.
The Army Corps project is a federally authorized, 50-year project designed to provide sustainable coastal storm risk management for property, critical infrastructure such as evacuation route State Road A1A, and environmental habitat while providing recreational opportunities for locals and tourists.
“The project will include construction and extension of the coastal dune and berm (open beach) based on pre-Hurricane Matthew dimensions,” the Army Corps news release states. “Native beach slopes and grades will be maintained, resulting in a wider beach berm for recreation and storm protection.”
The project will proceed in conjunction with other projects along the Flagler Beach shoreline including the Florida Department of Transportation secant wall project, future asphalt paving and related activities, according to the release. The Army Corps and other public agencies will coordinate and advertise necessary road and access closures and detours as the simultaneous projects make progress.
Construction will begin in June and will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week with staging and beach access points located at Veterans Park, 6th Street South, and to the south of the Pebble Beach Homeowners Association beachfront property.
For additional project information, go to www.flaglercounty.gov/departments/engineering/coastal-management. Or, follow project progress and find updates at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Shore-Protection/Flagler-County/.
