Beachgoers can look forward to enhanced sands at Pass-a-Grille Beach as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has greenlit the continuation of beach renourishment efforts, as per Pinellas County's announcement. Starting with immediate effect, the contractor tasked with the nourishment will begin staging equipment and deploying environmental safety measures in anticipation of the project's next phase.
An interim effort in June already saw between 5,000 to 10,000 cubic yards of sand bolstering the southern end of the beach, a part of the broader Grand Canal dredging project which concluded on June 28, now an additional 140,000 cubic yards of sand are set to be distributed along the beach from 1st Avenue to 22nd Avenue and although no businesses are expected to shut down during this time, residents and visitors will have to steer clear from construction areas and boaters are asked to give a wide berth to the dredging vessel and its intricate network of pipes.
Local tourism, a considerable economic force to the tune of $10 billion annually, stands to benefit from the nourishment cycle, which aims to replenish beaches eroded by natural forces and protect them against future storms. This particular cycle, reoccurring every ten years, is being financed through a combination of hotel bed tax revenue and state grants, specifically because federal projects along the Pinellas County coast have hit delays, according to Pinellas County officials.
The operation is slated for a 24/7 schedule, with inevitable impacts on the nocturnal soundscape and visibility due to lights, the contractor is pressing to wrap up the initial segment south of Paradise Grille by mid-September. The Pinellas County has provided an interactive project map for the public to track accessible beach points during this period.
