VERO BEACH — Public works crews finished demolishing portions of Humiston Beach Park boardwalk heavily damaged from Hurricane Nicole, city officials said last week. The labor and equipment cost to tear down the boardwalk was near $19,200, Vero Beach Public Works Director Matthew Mitts said.
Additional costs for disposal of the concrete were not immediately available.
“More sand will be added (to the boardwalk) in late January or early February,” Mitts said. “We’re trying to get public access restored as soon as possible. We will put sand around the public access walkway. Public access will reopen probably in late February.”
Demolition of the boardwalk began two weeks ago and wrapped up Jan. 11, Mitts said. Mitts previously said the boardwalk was “no good.”
Nicole, a Category 1 hurricane, brought 75 mph maximum sustained wind speeds and 1.90 inches of rainfall to Vero Beach in November 2022, meteorologists said. Hurricane Nicole delivered strong wind gusts up to 35 mph, which sent water from the Atlantic Ocean up to the wooden access stairways leading to the beaches.
The storm caused heavy erosion, damaging boardwalks including at Humiston Beach Park, Conn Beach and Jaycee Beach Park. The Humiston Beach Park boardwalk remains closed to the public.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
