Posted on November 13, 2024
You may have noticed the mounds and mounds of sand being unloaded, pushed around and piled up at Town Neck Beach in Sandwich.
A project is underway that is designed to be a long-term, sustainable solution for the erosion at the beach that has caused significant damage over the years.
The $8.95 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project is important not only for homeowners in the area, but also for the protection of the large marsh behind the beach, Heather Harper, the Sandwich assistant town manager, said on Nov. 4.
But when will it be completed?
Here’s everything you need to know about the project.
When will the project be completed?
On Nov. 7, town officials said the dredge and beach nourishment was two-thirds completed.
Is is possible to watch the project?
Yes. The project is a 24-hour a day operation. Safety is top priority, and the town asks that any onlookers respect work zones and keep a safe distance from the ongoing work. Part of the First Beach parking lot will be closed at the beginning of the project to stage equipment. Part of the Town Neck Beach parking lot will be similarly closed as work progresses in that direction.
How much sand is being moved?
The goal is to add approximately 325,000 cubic yards of material to the beach surface at Town Neck Beach, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Where is the sand coming from?
Sand is being dredged from what is called a “borrow area” off Scussett Beach State Reservation and sent through an approximately 9,000-foot pipeline across the bottom of the canal to the Town Neck Beach area. Once the sand gets to the Town Neck Beach area, it will be shaped for a dune and berm system.
Why is the project needed?
According to a U.S. Army Corps fact sheet, sand that would normally have been destined for the Town Neck Beach area has been interrupted by the east jetties of the Cape Cod Canal, causing sand to accrete on the north side of those jetties.
Bulldozers push sand ashore at Town Neck Beach in Sandwich bolstering the dunes dredged up from the Cape Cod Canal as part of a massive beach replenishment project.
Is the the final solution?
Additional beach nourishment will be needed in the future to maintain the gains of the current project, said Harper.
