Posted on December 8, 2020
BETHANY BEACH/SOUTH BETHANY, Del. – The U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers Bethany Beach & South Bethany Coastal Storm Risk Management Project is on track to add 334,181 cubic yards of sand to the beach.
The USACE Philadelphia District awarded an $11.1 million contract to Weeks Marine, Inc. Work began on October 26th in South Bethany.
Leo Methven of Millville walks his dog, Kobe, on Bethany Beach every other day.
“You see just on the ramp area, you have a wash away cutoff, which could also be a danger,” Methven says.
A spokesperson for the USACE says inclement weather and equipment repairs made for a few delays, not uncommon to projects like this. Bethany Beach Mayor Rosemary Hardiman says the timing is perfect.
“We were hoping it wouldn’t be done in September or October because business was booming,” Hardiman says. “There were a lot more people in town, renting houses and renting hotel rooms and many people didn’t have to return to work with (due to) COVID-19.”
Tidepool Toys and Games owner Sandy Smyth remembers previous projects that got delayed until the peak season.
“It’s very disruptive when they do it in the summer time,” Smyth says.
Smyth will have a front row seat on the boardwalk when replenishment does move north to Bethany.
“People come to Bethany Beach for the beach,” Smyth says. “That’s the primary attraction. Of course they come and they shop and they eat.”
Hardiman says the project is critical to protect the beach and nearby infrastructure.
“Before the summer started, we had a number of storms that had strong north east winds and eastern winds and it took a lot of sand away, so there were periods of time in the summer when with the high tide, there was no beach,” Hardiman says.
The USACE is expected to wrap up in South Bethany by December 10th and move north to Bethany Beach. The project is set to be complete January 26th, 2021, pending weather and equipment.
