Two beach towns in Sussex County are getting more sand on their beaches as part of a Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District awarded an $11.1 million contract to New Jersey-based Weeks Marine, Inc. to handle the latest periodic nourishment of Bethany and South Bethany beaches.
“So we have a dune and beach fill project that we have in Bethany and South Bethany. And every several years we come back and nourish the beach - basically to maintain it. And the project is designed to reduce the risk of damages from storms, to property and infrastructure in the communities,” said Steve Rochette, spokesman for the U-S Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District Office.
In Bethany Beach, work will take place between Ocean View Parkway and Oakwood Street. In South Bethany Beach, it will take place between Evergreen Road and Logan Street.
“We’ll be dredging, pumping and placing about 732,000 cubic yards of sand onto the communities," said Rochette. "And just to give you a reference - a typical dump truck is about 10 cubic yards - so this represents 73,000 dump trucks. This is a tremendous amount of sand. And again it helps main the projects as it’s designed.”
The project will also include planting of dune grass, installation of sand fencing and repairs of dune crossover/access points.
Rochette says work is expected to begin later this fall or during the winter months.
The cost of the project is being shared by the Federal government and the State of Delaware.
