Crews began the final phase of the emergency berm restoration project along Port Royal Beach on Monday, closing off 33rd Avenue South for the next two to three weeks.
The berm is being built along the high side of the beach between 21st Avenue South and Gordon Pass. Crews are hauling and dumping about 45,000 tons of sand Monday through Saturday, with equipment and trucks possibly staging as far north as 16th Avenue if needed.
The county says the project must be completed by May 1, ahead of sea turtle nesting season.
Seasonal residents who go to the beach access often say the timing of the work is tough during tourist season.
“Well, I can understand why they’re doing it,” said seasonal resident Chris Thomas. “But they should really have waited until maybe the end of April or May when all the snowbirds have gone home. It’s bad enough trying to park here — and now that 33rd is closed, nobody can park.”
Another visitor, Sebastian Strohschneider, said he understands why the project is necessary, even if it's a bit inconvenient.
“I talked to a worker of the next hurricane,” he said. “Maybe it’s waiting. It’s dangerous to live [here]. It’s a beach. It’s nice, very nice. But of course, the water comes closer and closer. We have to decide.”
Meanwhile, a separate stormwater beach outfall project also began Monday along Gulf Shore Boulevard North, from 6th Avenue North to 4th Avenue North. As part of that long-term project, beach accesses at 8th Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North are closed for about 18 months.
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