2016/17 Project Status Updates
DATE: 15 August 2017
Dune vegetation planting is to be completed by 27 August 2017. Owing to some storm delays this week, the current schedule is for sea oat installation to re-commence next week (22 August), at which time work will be completed north of 8th Avenue South (Jax Beach) and then proceeding southward from 16th Avenue South (Jax Beach) to the St. Johns County line. This morning, the City of Jacksonville Beach completed its installation of posts-and-rope southward to 25th Avenue South (Jax Beach). All other work (sand placement, etc) has been completed.
DATE: 14 July 2017
Sea oat planting has been completed along north Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach – from 8th Avenue North (JB) to 19th Street (AB). Sea oat planting will continue along central and south Jax Beach, from 8th Avenue North to the St. Johns County line, from about July 17th through August 15th.
As part of the dune restoration project, 5,000 cubic yards of sand was placed between 15th Avenue South and 16th Avenue South. On July 24, work will begin to redistribute the sand, by truck, to areas south of 16th Avenue South. The work is expected to take about a week.
Since large trucks will be traveling along the beach, for safety reasons, the beach and beach accesses in the area between 14th Avenue South and 27th Avenue South will be closed during that week on varying days and times as the project progresses. It will be very important for all people, especially children and pets, to stay clear of the work area. Following the sand placement, the beach front will be tilled to loosen compacted sand from the hauling operations. This work is expected to occur between July 31st to August 11th and will not require a complete closure of the beach. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to further restore the dunes that play such an important role in protecting our City.
A vicinity map is included via the link below. As with any construction project, there may be some unavoidable inconvenience along the project route. In our effort to keep these inconveniences to a minimum, we will be happy to discuss any specific concerns you may have throughout this project.
Should you have any questions, or wish to discuss any of the work, please contact one of the following:
Contractor Representative: Gus Natvig Phone: (904) 477-1718
City Representative: Kenny Geisendorff Phone: (904) 783-9842
Your Understanding and cooperation throughout this project is greatly appreciated and we believe you will be very pleased with the final product. We believe that the work will be a significant improvement to your neighborhood.
Vicinity Map
DATE: 26 May 2017
Dredging and sand fill placement along the Jacksonville Beaches was completed on Wednesday afternoon, May 24, 2017. The dredging Contractor will be removing the construction equipment off of the beach during the next two weeks. The beach has been “tilled” (to loosen the dredged sand for marine turtle nesting) along Atlantic Beach and north of the Jax Beach pier. Tilling south of the pier will be conducted next week. There will be little or no construction activity along the beach during the Memorial Day weekend.
About 5,000 cubic yards of additional sand have been stockpiled to the dune between 14th and 17th Avenues South, JB. The plan is for this 5,000 c.y. of sand to be transferred by trucks, along the beach, to repair specific areas of dune erosion between 18th and 27th Avenues South JB, more or less. The City of Jacksonville is accepting bids for that truck-haul work on 30 May 2017.
Also within the next week, the Corps’ dredging contractor will be pushing up the remaining reeds (sticks and straw) from Hurricane Matthew toward the eroded dunes, between about 18th Avenue South JB and the County line. This will help to protect the dunes, capture more sand, and accelerate the dunes’ natural recovery in this area. The detrital reeds, left by the storm, are otherwise too far seaward on the beach. They are accumulating a pioneer dune that will be washed away during a very high tide or minor storm. Instead, the reeds would better serve to accumulate sand farther landward, amidst the normal stable location of the dunes.
Planting of dune vegetation is anticipated to begin on June 6 and continue through about August 15, 2017. Approximately, 620,000 native dune plants will be installed, including 589,000 sea oats and 31,000 plants of railroad vine, dune sunflower and panic grass. The dune vegetation will occur in Neptune Beach/north JB between 1st Street AB and 8th Avenue North JB around June 6-16. Planting in Atlantic Beach is anticipated from June 21 to July 15 extending to between 17/18th Streets and possibly to 19th Street (pending confirmation). Planting in central/south Jacksonville Beach, from 8th Avenue North JB to the County Line, is scheduled for July 18 – August 15. Actual dates will vary.
In all, the 2016/17 renourishment will have placed about 860,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach plus nearly 200,000 cubic yards of sand to repair the dunes – all within 6.5 months after Hurricane Matthew passed the First Coast on October 7, 2016.
An updated progress and schedule map provided by the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company is available via the following link.
GLDD DUVAL COUNTY BEACH PROGRESS MAP
DATE: 12 May 2017
Beach and dune renourishment is ongoing in north Atlantic Beach (12th Street through mid-way between 17th/18th Streets) and is anticipated to be completed by about 19 May 2017. Dune renourishment – with supplemental beach nourishment – will then continue along south-central Jacksonville Beach, from about 17th Avenue South to 8th Avenue North, proceeding mostly south-to-north, between about 19 May and the first week of June 2017. Beginning on 11 May, two (2) dredges are being employed concurrently to construct the work — the Padre Island and Dodge Island – replacing the single dredge Terrapin that has constructed the work to date (the Terrapin was transferred to another project assignment last week). Schedules are subject to change.
An additional 5,000 cubic yards of sand will be stockpiled to the seaward face of the dune between 14th and 17th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach through a separate contract action by the City of Jacksonville in early June 2017. It is also anticipated that reeds that were washed up and partly buried at the top of the beach, between about 25th Avenue South and the County Line, Jacksonville Beach will be pushed landward against the dune – to help accelerate dune repairs in this area. This is to be conducted in early June.
The renourished beach areas will be “tilled” to facilitate marine turtle nesting in May-June. Meantime, marine turtle nests in the area are being relocated or marked (for avoidance) by Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.
Planting of sea oats and other native dune vegetation is anticipated to commence in late May or early June and continue through July. That work will commence in north Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach and continue through Atlantic Beach and then through central-south Jacksonville Beach. About 620,000 plants will be installed through this action and contracted by the City of Jacksonville.
The overall beach and dune renourishment effort is being accomplished through complex cooperative actions by the US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Jacksonville, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol and the Cities of Atlantic, Neptune and Jacksonville Beaches among many other contributing parties and firms.
DATE: 10 April 2017
Sand placement is anticipated to start in Atlantic Beach on April 14th at about 7th Street and progress southward to join the previously completed work at 1st Street. Then, it will move northward from 7th Street to about 17th Street, Atlantic Beach. The Atlantic Beach work is predicted to require about 2 weeks to complete. The Contractor intends to have all his equipment in place in Atlantic Beach so that little or no transit along the remaining beaches is necessary over Easter weekend.
After Atlantic Beach, the dredge will return to Jacksonville Beach where it will repair the dunes – and also place additional sand to the beach – from 8th Avenue North to between 16th/17th Avenues South. The beach and dune north of 8th Avenue South, along Neptune Beach, was already repaired in November 2016. The dunes south of 17th Avenue South, to the St. Johns Country line, were not severely eroded by Hurricane Matthew for the most part, excepting several discrete areas, because this beach was renourished just prior to the October 7 storm. Much of these dunes have already been restored by wind-blown sand caught by the washed-up reeds and the re-emerging sea oats. And so, further beach renourishment will not be constructed south of about 16th/17th Avenue South. However, the Corps of Engineers, the City of Jacksonville and the Contractor are working through various plans to address several isolated areas of dune erosion and other improvements to the beach and dune between 16th/ 17th Avenue South and the County line. The Jacksonville Beach portion of the dune and beach repair is anticipated to require about 3 to 4 weeks to complete.
Dune vegetation is anticipated to commence in late May and continue through July 2017. Dune vegetation will be installed from north Atlantic Beach to the south end of Jacksonville Beach.
DATE: 27 March 2017
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company’s dredge “Terrapin Island” is anticipated to return to Jacksonville and resume dredging and sand renourishment of the beaches and dunes as early as April 8, 2017. The dredge had to leave Jacksonville on December 3, 2016 to conduct previously scheduled work at Savannah Harbor – where it is currently dredging until its permitted construction window ends at that site.
Construction crews are re-staging their equipment at 16th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach. Beginning around March 30, trailers with dredge pipeline, trucks and bulldozers will move northward up the beach toward Atlantic Beach – where the work left off in December. A submerged pipeline will be placed just offshore of about 7th Street in Atlantic Beach, to which the dredge will hook-up to deliver sand. The landward end of the pipe will be placed upon the beach just above high tide. A second pipeline will be placed at about 15th Street, AB.
The sand placement will include both dune repairs and beach renourishment, built concurrently as the construction moves along the beach. Sand placement is anticipated to start at about 7th Street AB and move southward to join the previously completed work at 1st Street AB. Then, it will move northward from 7th Street to about 17th Street, Atlantic Beach. The Atlantic Beach work is predicted to require about 15 to 20 days to complete.
After Atlantic Beach, the dredge will return to Jacksonville Beach where it will repair the dunes – and also place additional sand to the beach – from 8th Avenue North to between 16th/17th Avenues South. The beach and dune north of 8th Avenue South, along Neptune Beach, was already repaired in November 2016. The dunes south of 17th Avenue South, to the St. Johns Country line, were not severely eroded by Hurricane Matthew for the most part, because this beach was renourished just prior to the October 7 storm. Much of these dunes have already been restored by wind-blown sand caught by the washed-up reeds and the re-emerging sea oats. And so, further sand renourishment will not be constructed south of about 16th/17th Avenue South. The Jacksonville Beach portion of the dune and beach repair is anticipated to require about 3 to 4 weeks.
As before, about 1,000 feet of beach and beach access locations will be closed to public use as the construction activity moves along the shoreline. Construction will typically advance about 500 feet per day – or about 1-1/2 street blocks per day. So, most beach closures for construction will only last about 2 days. Work shall be continuous, 7 days per week, 24 hours per day.
The City of Jacksonville issued it’s “Notice of Award” to the dune vegetation contractor last week. About 590,000 sea oat sprigs and 30,000 other native dune plants will be planted along the restored sand dunes. The plants are currently being grown in nurseries. Installation will begin in late May or early June 2017, more or less. The planting will begin along the already completed dune (Neptune Beach) and then continue along the remainder of the Beaches, from north Atlantic Beach to the St. Johns County line.
A more definitive schedule and project details will be known after 1 April 2017, when the dredge is anticipated to leave Savannah.
DATE: 1 December 2016
The dredging contractor will continue pumping sand onto the beach just north of Atlantic Blvd, in order to rebuild the dune and beach, through early Saturday afternoon, December 3. At that time, the dredge must depart for previously contracted work at Savannah Harbor, Georgia. Over the next one to two weeks, the contractor will remove all of the dredging pipes and equipment from the beach and the surf. Some of the equipment will be shipped temporarily to other jobs around the southeast US and some will be stored nearby in Jacksonville. Most of the beach construction equipment will be moved southward along the beach and through 16th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach. Those portions of the beach where sand has been placed will be “tilled” in order to loosen the sand for the marine turtle nesting season that will begin in April 2017.
When the dredge departs, all dune and beach renourishment will have been completed along Neptune Beach and northern Jacksonville Beach (from about One Ocean/Atlantic Blvd to 8th Avenue North). Beach renourishment, without the dune repair, will have been completed along central and south Jacksonville Beach (from 8th Avenue North to the Pier to the St. Johns County Line).
The dredge and pipelines and crew are scheduled to return to the Jacksonville Beaches in early May 2017 in order to complete the beach and dune renourishment. That work will include the concurrent construction of the beach and dune repairs along Atlantic Beach (from about 1st Street to the project’s original terminus near 18th Street). And, it will likely also include dune renourishment along the southern half of the project where the dunes were not yet repaired (from 8th Avenue North to the St. Johns County Line, Jacksonville Beach). All of that work will take about 2 months; that is, probably through early July 2017.
Meantime, the City of Jacksonville will prepare plans and solicit a contractor to provide and install sea oat plants along the restored dunes. The goal is to plant the completed dune area in March-April 2017 and the remainder of the dune after it is restored in Summer 2017. The Beaches Cities will be erecting temporary barriers and signs, walkways, and repairing dune walkovers in order to limit people from walking through the dunes and from damaging the dune repairs. Please do your part to stay off of the dunes; and enjoy the beach and the winter surf.
DATE: 14 November 2016
Concurrent dune and berm construction has been completed in Neptune Beach from Walnut Street to Bowles Street and is ongoing in north Jacksonville Beach between 9th Avenue North and 14th Avenue North. In the coming week through Thanksgiving concurrent berm and dune construction is anticipated from 14th Avenue North to Hopkins Street in north Jacksonville Beach. During the last week of November, the dune and berm construction between Hopkins Street and Bowles Street will be completed. In the first week of December concurrent dune and berm construction is anticipated to commence in north Neptune Beach, from Walnut Street northward towards 2nd Street Atlantic Beach. The dredge is required to depart in early December for other commitments but with plans to return in Spring 2017 to complete beach and dune work with details to be determined. Actual dates may vary.
DATE: 1 November 2016
The dredging contractor will continue beach renourishment construction this weekend, during the Sea & Sky Spectacular Airshow. The active work area will be along central and north Neptune Beach.
On Saturday, expect about 1000-feet of the beach to be completely closed to public access from Orange Street to Cedar Street in Neptune Beach.
On Sunday, expect about 1000-feet of the beach to be completely closed to public access from Atlantic Blvd. at Town Center to Cherry Street in Neptune Beach. These are the projected work areas; the actual areas of beach closure may vary by a street or two.
There will be NO access behind the work area on the beach, and NO access through the work area along the waterline. Beachgoers will have to walk to the street (1st Street or 2nd Street) and walk around the closed-off beach area.
So, If you want to walk along the beach toward the Pier and the Airshow this weekend, and you’re coming from the north, then (1) access the beach SOUTH OF CEDAR STREET in Neptune Beach on Saturday, and (2) access the beach SOUTH OF CHERRY STREET in Neptune Beach on Sunday. From there, you should be able to walk on the beach all the way southward to the Pier.
Remember to keep off of the dunes (they’re already damaged enough by the storm), and keep out of the water during the Airshow (that’s Blue Angels rules!).
DATE: 31 October 2016
Sand renourishment of the beach berm has been completed from just north of the Jacksonville Beach Pier southward to the St. Johns County Line. In the coming week, the dredging contractor is anticipated to commence the next section of beach renourishment between Florida Boulevard and Seagate Avenue in southern Neptune Beach. Dredging and beach fill operations are then anticipated to focus upon the northern Neptune Beach area during the latter part of this week, as the Jacksonville Sea & Sky Spectacular Airshow approaches on November 5th and 6th.
Last week, on October 25th, the Jacksonville City Council approved an emergency expenditure of up to $7.5 million for reconstruction of the sand dunes that were eroded by Hurricane Matthew. The Corps of Engineers and the dredging contractor are working this week to incorporate dune repairs into the ongoing beach fill renourishment work. This work may include rebuilding the dunes as the beach fill progresses along the renourishment project area — in addition to stockpiling sand on the beach in order to rebuild the dunes along the project area that has already been renourished. In the latter instance, trucks would haul the stockpiled sand southward along the beach and place the sand along the face of the eroded dunes. Installation of young sea oat plants would follow, after reconstruction of the dunes. Details of the dune reconstruction effort — if it can be incorporated to the dredge contractor’s busy post-hurricane work schedule – are expected to be known later this week.
DATE: 17 October 2016
Sand placement restarted on Friday, October14th at 16th Avenue South. Operations are currently located in the vicinity of 10th Avenue South and progressing northward.
DATE: 10 October 2016
The dredging contracting has been using the past several day to remobilize to the beach following the passage of Hurricane Matthew. Sand placement is anticipated to recommence tomorrow (Wednesday, October 12th) starting at 16th Avenue South and progressing northward.
DATE: 4 October 2016
The dredging contractor will be working through Wednesday afternoon, and then will move the dredge and other equipment into the river harbor and off of the beach in preparation for the passage of Hurricane Matthew. Depending upon the storm’s impacts, the dredge will resume working later this weekend.
DATE: 19 September 2016
The dredge Terrapin Island arrived Saturday morning, 17 September 2016, and the first load of sand was dredged and pumped to begin the beach renourishment. Shortly thereafter, a mechanical problem with one of the dredge pumps required that the dredge move to a dock in the St. Johns River for a repair. The dredge is anticipated to return to sea and re-commence the beach renourishment this week (September 19 or 20). As per the original plan, the sand placement will commence near the south end of Jacksonville Beach, work southward to the County Line, and then proceed northward toward Neptune and ultimately Atlantic Beach.
DATE: 12 September 2016
The dredge is anticipated to arrive on September 17th with sand placement beginning later that day or on September 18th.
DATE: 26 August 2016
The first submerged pipeline, which will carry sand from the hopper dredge to the beach, was installed just south of 37th Avenue South (Jacksonville Beach) on August 22nd. The second pipeline will be installed between 16th and 17th Avenue South (Jax Beach) this coming week, by about September 1. Truck-loads of shore pipeline (the pipe that carries the sand and water along the beach) will begin to arrive at 16th Avenue South (Jax Beach) later next week, by about September 2.
The arrival date for the dredge, and the start of the beach fill sand placement, has been pushed back about one week – to a projected start-up during the second week of September. The extra week is required to complete maintenance activities on the dredge.
DATE: 15 August 2016
The dredging contractor for the project, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, will begin moving equipment to the beach on August 18, to prepare for the beach renourishment. The street end at 16th Avenue South, Jacksonville Beach, will be closed beginning on August 17, for use as a temporary staging and access area for the contractor’s equipment. Parking and vehicle access on 16th Avenue South (Jax Bch), east of 1st Street, will be closed to the general public. A pedestrian (sidewalk) access to the beach, along the north side of 16th Avenue South, will remain open – separated from the construction activity by a temporary fence. The 16th Avenue South street end is expected to remain mostly closed through the 2-month duration of the renourishment work.
The first submerged pipeline – which will transport sand from the hopper-dredge ship to the beach — will be placed across the seabed to the beach early next week (August 23). This temporary pipeline will be located near the south end of the project, near 36th Avenue South (Jax Bch).
Placement of renourishment sand onto the beach is anticipated to begin after Labor Day — on or after September 6. The beach construction operation will begin at the south end of the project, from about 36th Avenue South to the St. Johns County line, and then proceed northward. The construction is expected to take about 60 days – reaching its north end (between 17th and 18th Streets in Atlantic Beach) by the beginning of November.
An estimated schedule of the construction progress along the beach will be posted on this website later this week. Questions about the project can be directed to the US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Corporate Communications Office, Attn: Susan Jackson, at (904) 232-1630, susan.j.jackson@usace.army.mil.
DATE: 21 July 2016
The Pre-Construction Conference for the 2016 beach renourishment was held on July 20. At the conference, the Contractor (Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company) described its anticipated schedule as follows:
- August 15-31: Initial mobilization of pipelines and equipment, principally through 16th Avenue South access, Jacksonville Beach
- September 1: Dredge “Terrapin” arrives and begins sand dredging and pumping
- Sept. – Early November: Beach fill commences near south end of project (south Jacksonville Beach) and generally progresses northward (through Atlantic Beach).
The schedule and order-of-work are dependent upon weather, seas, and equipment, and are subject to change.
DATE: 20 July 2016
Project pre-construction conference will be held at Jacksonville Beach City Hall at 1 pm, Wednesday July 20, 2016.
DATE: 29 June 2016
Corps awards Duval County Shore Protection Contract
Jacksonville, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
awarded a Duval County Shore Protection construction contract June 28 to
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC, of Oak Brook, Illinois, for
$13,572,170.
The construction will place 650,000 cubic yards of sand on about seven miles
of eroded beaches, including Jacksonville, Neptune and a portion of Atlantic
Beach. The project’s completion is set for fall 2016.
The goal of engineered shore projects is to reduce risk and promote coastal
resilience. Shore projects help to reduce the damages – economic,
environmental, infrastructure, human health and safety – of tropical storms
and hurricanes. Thousands of residents and businesses in Duval County
benefit from this shore project because storm events erode the beach rather
than destroying coastal infrastructure. Coastal communities with engineered
beaches have historically fared much better than other communities as proven
by numerous studies.
Along with providing economic stability and opportunities, beach nourishment
projects also have inherent benefits in restoring critical habitat for
shorebird and marine turtle nesting.
The Duval County project was initially constructed in 1978-80 and since
then, five principal renourishments occurred (1985-87, 1991, 1995, 2005, and
2011) in addition to periodic placement of maintenance-dredged sand. Beach
renourishment occurs about every five to six years to maintain beaches as
part of the project. This renourishment is funded in partnership with the
City of Jacksonville, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and
Duval County; funded 38.4 percent locally and 61.6 percent federally.
This year’s renourishment will widen the beach berm by between 20 and 60
feet in width, and raise the elevation of the intertidal beach by about 3 to
5 feet. The amount of increased beach width and height will vary along the
shoreline. The contractor will excavate sand from four offshore borrow areas
located in federal waters.
In 2013, Florida beaches had an annual recreational value of about $50
billion – and the majority of these beaches were engineered and renourished.
Erosion is the number one concern beach tourists have about beaches. In
areas where eroded beaches were restored, tourist visits and revenues
increased.
For more information about Corps coastal resiliency projects in Florida,
visit www.saj.usace.army.mil.