After months of bulldozers, dredge pipes, and keep out signs, Galveston’s Hershey Beach is officially back in business. The popular West End stretch reopened this week following a shoreline renourishment effort that wrapped up in mid-February, with state and federal crews placing roughly 378,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand and restoring about 5,300 linear feet of shoreline. The beach had been off-limits since October 2025 while crews shored up dunes and replenished the sand.
Project numbers and footprint
In yesterday's press release, the Texas General Land Office detailed the Continuing Authorities Program Section 204 (CAP 204) work, noting that 378,268 cubic yards of beach-quality sand were placed over roughly 5,300 linear feet from Sunbather Lane to Jane Road, stopping just short of Beach Access 12. According to the agency, the material was dredged from the Galveston Ship Channel, then graded to meet beach-quality specs to rebuild the berm and dune system along this slice of the coast.
How the work was done
Announced in July 2025 and overseen by the Galveston District, the project was carried out under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ CAP 204 program, using beneficial reuse of dredged material to bulk up the shoreline. Early Corps planning called for roughly 717,000 cubic yards of material over about 1.8 miles of shore and flagged erosion on the west end as approaching 6.86 feet per year. Construction was handled by a contracted dredging firm working out of the Galveston Ship Channel under Corps oversight.
Local reaction
Galveston City Manager Brian Maxwell welcomed the project’s completion and told the Houston Chronicle, "We look forward to many more projects such as this to improve our beaches for both our residents and all Texans.” The paper also pointed out that the restored stretch is one of the West End beaches where alcohol is allowed in non-glass containers and noted the area had been closed to the public since October while pipelines and heavy equipment were staged.
What it means for resilience and tourism
In its statement, the Texas General Land Office quoted Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham as saying the office will continue working to combat encroaching erosion and fortify the Texas coast against tropical storms and hurricanes. Officials framed the Hershey Beach work as pulling double duty: helping shield homes and infrastructure while also serving as an investment in Galveston’s recreation economy and tourism draw.
Quick notes for beachgoers
The timing is no accident. The finish line came just ahead of spring-break travel, and the Houston Chronicle calculated that the sand volume was enough to fill NRG Stadium to give locals a sense of scale. Visitors heading back to Hershey Beach are still being asked to keep an eye on posted signs and local access updates while crews finish pulling out pipelines and other heavy gear.
Earlier coverage
Closed Until 2025 was how Hoodline framed the situation when work first kicked off in October, outlining the project’s scope and the temporary access restrictions as the city and state shifted from planning into full construction mode.
