INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A $5.4 million beach dune restoration project is moving forward that will encompass a 6.6-mile stretch from John’s Island north to Treasure Shores Park.
The Indian River County Public Works Department will advertise for bids on the 154,000-cubic-yard project next week and sand could be delivered to the dune sometime around December or next January, according to Public Works Coastal Engineer James Gray.
Half of the project – a maximum $2.7 million – will be funded through state dollars set aside for Hurricane Sandy relief. Indian River County will have to come up with the remainder. Gray said those dollars would come from the County’s beach preservation fund.
Between 2010 and 2012, Indian River County underwent an extension restoration project along the same 6.6-mile stretch of beach. And while Hurricane Sandy washed away some of the beach itself, much damage was done to the high dune.
Gray explained that the County is focusing on repairing the dune over the beach because the beach will recover more quickly than the high dune, which might not recover on its own.
“The dune is you last resort” for protection, Gray said, noting that the dune, in this case, served to break the sea waves, but was damaged in the process.
Atop the dune sits roadways, businesses and homes, along with county parks. Gray said restoring the dune would help reinforce and protect the infrastructure and development there.
Gray said the bid will be open to both upland and off-shore sources. Selection will be based on the proposals received – the costs and abilities of the responding companies.
He expects for the bid proposals to come back to the County by mid-June and a contract be awarded in July. Due to state regulations and sea turtle nesting season, work would not be able to start until Nov. 1 at the earliest.
As work begins, crews will shut down the public access points one at a time – closing one, performing the work there, and then reopening before moving on to the next site.
Gray said it was a lesson learned from the previous project, performing the work in the stages. A 500-foot safety area will be in place at each worksite, keeping the public from wandering into the work zones.
Gray said the public can expect to find notices posted at each of the five public access sites as the closure dates are determined. Notices will be posted on the County’s website, www.ircgov.com, and press releases will be issued to the media for publication.
The Board of County Commissioners will be given updates during the regular meetings as the restoration project progresses, as well.
Property owners can also expect to receive a letter in the mail sometime over the summer notifying them of the upcoming project.