Posted on January 26, 2026
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — A long-delayed project to dredge all the sand that has been choking John’s Pass for years will start next month.
City officials said Friday that work will begin Feb. 9 and that the project will take anywhere from 60 to 90 days to complete.
It will remove up to 12,900 cubic yards of sand from John’s Pass.
Madeira Beach city commissioners approved a $1.5 million contract last month for the work.
The sand has created dangerous swimming conditions. Former Madeira Beach Mayor John Hendricks first warned the public about the sand buildup problem in 2020.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reported in December that it has since become the number one spot for water rescues in the county.
The project has taken years to get off the ground.
State Rep. Linda Chaney presented the city commission with a $1.5 million state grant to pay for the sand to be dredged in 2022.
In the time after that, the project never got underway, and the city was forced to ask the state for an extension to the grant, which was approved.
The dredged sand will be trucked to the property at 555 150th Ave., where it will be used to help fill and grade the site for future use.
Residents and visitors are asked to use extra caution when accessing the park during the project.
