A beach restoration project at Horizon Way Beach in Park Shore officially began Monday morning.
The $5.5 million project, approved by Collier County commissioners, will restore the beach to its standard 85-foot width. Crews are hauling in 167,700 tons of sand sourced from a mine in Immokalee to replace what hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton swept away.
The new sand is expected to provide storm protection for nearby buildings and roads, as well as offer residents and visitors more space to enjoy the beach.
Kristopher Hill, a longtime visitor to the area, has noticed significant erosion over the years.
"The beach erosion, yeah, like the drop-off here," Hill said. "Over the years, you tend to see a few of those going on, but it's really drastic since [the hurricanes], and some of the water conditions have changed a little bit."
Crews will be working Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the project. While the Horizon Way beach access is closed to the public during construction, the nearby Vedado Way access remains open.
The restoration work is expected to be completed by mid-to-late February, just in time for sea turtle nesting season.