Posted on February 9, 2026
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — In just two weeks, crews are going to start dredging a beach that has formed next to the John’s Pass bridge. It’s a project that’s more than four years in the making after concerns over people’s safety near the pass, the drainage and the ability for boats to dock at the John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk.
10 Investigates had reported on how the Florida legislature awarded the city of Madeira Beach $1.5 million to dredge this sand back in 2022. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told 10 Investigates they asked for more specifics about the project in September 2024. There was some controversy over what was causing the delays. Robin Gomez was Madeira Beach’s City Manager at the time.
He told 10 Investigates, “They’ve [Army Corps of Engineers] had all the information, but they got the final product a couple of months ago, and now we’re just waiting for them for the approval,” Gomez said.
Rep. Linda Chaney worked to get the appropriation from the state for the project. She told 10 Tampa Bay News that the city’s struggles caused the delay.
“Consequently, they fired their city manager. That had a lot to do with the reason the dredge did not get started. It was mismanaged and now it’s moving forward with an anticipated start date of February. We are just so excited. It is great for all those businesses,” Chaney said.
10 Investigates reporter Jennifer Titus walked along the property with Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina back in 2024.
“You have a dangerous attraction to tourists who don’t know any better,” Hubbard said. “[Who] think this is a beach. They go out here and go swimming and get swept away.”
He added, “We’re constantly saving people who are either getting swept in or out of the channel off the sand.”
Chaney says the project will help keep people away from the danger.
“It increases the safety in that area because people are using this false beach area that is really fast moving water. It’s very dangerous. People have drowned there, so this has been needed for a long time. We’re so happy that it’s about to get started,” Chaney said.
Last March, the Corps gave Pinellas County several permits for urgent beach nourishment projects.
We asked the city of Madeira about the delays. They said they wanted to start the project last fall but were delayed due to Pinellas County’s dredging project in the channel.
The city says the dredging is going to start Feb. 9. It’s expected to take 60 to 90 days. The sand that’s removed will be taken to a property north of the pass near the Tom Stuart Causeway to fill and grade.
