A $34 million program aimed at strengthening the coastline dunes in Ponte Vedra Beach, South Ponte Vedra Beach and the southern portion of Crescent Beach will be getting underway this summer.The St. Johns Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Federal Emergency Management Agency money be used for the project this week.
Preparations are scheduled to begin in July, with work anticipated to start in September. If all goes according to plan, the work will wrap up in December. The project is currently in the permitting phase.
Sand will be trucked in, and there may be intermittent beach closures during the project.
A portion of Cornerstone Park in Ponte Vedra will be used as a staging area. Workers also expect to user Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park and other suitable private lots during the project.
Access to Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park will be restricted for beach visitors Monday through Friday during the dune strengthening. A portion of the parking lot and the beach walkway will remain open on weekends.
Officials said they will be keeping an eye out for protected species and any environmental impact the work causes. More information about the project is on the St. Johns County’s website. People with questions can also email coastalprojects@sjcfl.us or call the county at (904)-209-0260.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
