Posted on August 15, 2015
The SRIA board addressed Pensacola Beach renouishment at its Wednesday meeting. Board members approved Weeks Marine, Covington, La., as beach renourishment contractor, contingent on receiving an Army Corp permit and the state plugging in the totals and then writing its matching grant.
The SRIA selection committee accepted bids from Weeks Marine, Manson and Great Lakes. Weeks Marine offered its services for $15.3 million, according to Paolo Ghio, SRIA development services director. Weeks Marine renourished Pensacola Beach in 2005.
Last summer, county commissioners approved a 1,750,000-cubic-yard renourishment project to restore 8.1 miles along the Gulf side of the beach. The commissioners co-signed a loan for the SRIA to cover half the expense with the matching state grant covering the other half.
Assuming the two items come to fruition, Weeks Marine will begin the project as early as Nov. 1 and no later than Dec. 3. Ghio said Weeks Marine agreed to a 100-day completion window, and the project will be completed before spring break.
“At the end of the project, it’ll look like a farmer coming out here with his plow,” Ghio said. “It fluffs up the beach that has been done.”
