Multi-million dollar Mexico Beach re-nourishment project has been approved

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Bay County Commissioners have approved a multi-million dollar beach re-nourishment project for Mexico Beach.

The project will cover 3 miles of beach for $27 million.

When Hurricane Michael slammed directly into Mexico Beach in 2018, most of the sand washed away, along with the buildings. 6-years later, local government officials are ready to rebuild the beach.

Tuesday morning, Bay County commissioners awarded the beach renourishment contract to Weeks Marine. The contract will cover 3 miles of beach, some of it considered to be in bad shape.

“So the shoreline, of course, is greatly impacted by Hurricane Michael. Mexico Beach already has about a mile that has been considered or critically eroded by the state. So that’s already been impacted and noted for that. So that little section as well as the rest of the three-mile section of Mexico beach really needs additional support of sand. We have secured an offshore site where we will be dredging the sand up the quality of the sand is too granular, the same as what’s currently on the beach,” Community Development Council President Kimberly Shoaff said.

Mexico Beach Community Development officials said they began addressing the eroding shoreline in 2016, 2-years before Hurricane Michael.

Members eventually secured a total of $25 million in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act, created to help communities recover from COVID-19, housing and urban development, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The project involves dredging nearly one million cubic yards of sand from off-shore and placing it on the beach.

“So it will extend the beach, it enhances the dune system. So it gives a break. As the waves come, they’ll be protected with coats. So anything that we can have to help protect those residents over there, we welcome it. And all the houses had to be rebuilt. They’re built to a higher standard,” Commissioner Robert Carroll said.

The beach will be about 175 feet wide, from the dunes to the waterline. The entire project should be completed sometime in April or May.

The cost per mile of the beach is much more expensive than Panama City Beach’s last renourishment project. Experts said because this is Mexico Beach’s first rebuild, it will require more cubic yards of sand per mile.

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