The Town of Nags Head announced Wednesday morning, August 21, that their beach nourishment project has finished ahead of schedule. The last load of sand was pumped onto the beach early in the morning of Sunday, August 18.

Starting May 1, four million cubic yards of sand was placed on 10 miles of Nags Head’s beach from the Bonnett Street public beach access at 2919 South Virginia Dare Trail near milepost 11 to the town’s southern boundary with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore near milepost 21.

“We are pleased this critical project has been completed before the onset of storm season,” said Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon. “Nourishment not only results in a wider, more protective beach, but it also aids in the development of a defensive dune system, both of which will help decrease damage from storms.”

The Town of Nags Head release said final costs are not yet available, but the $43,022,251 budget covers the cost of a regularly-scheduled beach nourishment maintenance project as well as a Hurricane Matthew (2016) public disaster assistance project. Combining the disaster assistance project with the scheduled maintenance work allowed the town to reduce expenses associated with project design, equipment mobilization/demobilization and construction administration and oversight.

Funding for the project breaks down as follows:

• Nags Head property taxes – $11,380,000
• Proceeds from the Dare County Beach Nourishment Fund – $9,773,356
• Excess funds from the town’s 2011 nourishment project – $5,525,058
• Hurricane Matthew disaster assistance funds from the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency – $16,233,837
• Fund interest – $110,000

In addition, Dare County is providing five annual debt supplement payments of $600,000 each.

Demobilization has started with project-related equipment being hauled off the beach at the Gulfstream public beach access just south of Jennette’s Pier near milepost 16.5. The access will be closed to vehicles, but not pedestrians, until August 27. The Forrest Street public beach access near milepost 15.5 also remains closed to parking, but pedestrian access is still available.

“We are grateful to everyone for their patience with this project,” said Cahoon. “While the summer is not the optimal season to conduct this type of work, it is the safest time of the year for this type of construction to take place. Our contractors, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock and Coastal Science and Engineering, as well as our staff, did a great job ensuring the project progressed safely and smoothly.”

As part of the project, the town is using a contractor to install sand fencing and vegetative sprigging throughout the project’s 10-mile-long area. This work is now taking place in the south end of Nags Head and should be complete in October. Sea oats, which are tolerant of warm weather conditions, are being planted.

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