Posted on July 17, 2024
More sand is on the way for eroded Pass-a-Grille Beach, Pinellas County officials announced last week.
Why it matters: Periodic renourishment is necessary to restore beaches from natural and hurricane-induced erosion. Healthy shorelines help protect waterfront habitats and communities from storms — and keep Tampa Bay’s beloved beaches accessible.
State of play: Workers are set to dredge and pipe 140,000 cubic yards of sand — enough to fill 43 Olympic swimming pools — to the shore between First and 22nd avenues, per a county news release.
- It adds to more than 10,000 cubic yards of sand added last month to the south end of the beach.
The timeline: Officials expect the first phase of the project on the shoreline south of Paradise Grille to be finished by late August. The second phase on the north end should wrap up in late October, the county said.
- Portions of the beach will be closed during construction. Dredging will take place 24/7, and nearby residents can expect some light noise at night, per the county.
Between the lines: This project is separate from beach renourishment efforts that remain on hold due to a stalemate between beachfront homeowners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, county spokesperson Tony Fabrizio told Axios.
- While the Pass-a-Grille project required and received authorization from the Army Corps, the county is footing the roughly $5.9 million bill using tourism bed tax revenue.
