The Jacksonville, Fla., District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced March 27, 2025, that it has awarded an approximately $20 million contract to Marinex Construction Inc. for the second periodic renourishment of Fernandina Beach for the Nassau County Shore Protection Project (SPP).
Based in Charleston, S.C., the marine contractor is set to undertake the project in a continuing effort to replenish the beachfront following damage done to it by Hurricane Nicole in 2022.
The Nassau County SPP is a federally authorized, 50-year project designed to provide sustainable shore protection for property, critical infrastructure and environmental habitat while simultaneously providing recreational opportunities for residents and tourists, energizing the local economy.
USACE will cover 100 percent of the total project costs.
The plan calls for renourishing approximately 4 mi. of shoreline on Fernandina Beach south of the St. Mary Entrance Channel south jetty, located between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's R-19 and R-33 range monuments, or coastal survey markers, established by the FDEP to track beach erosion and accretion and to assist in coastal management and mapping.
Beach compatible sand for the project will be dredged from the South Channel Borrow Area, located approximately 3 mi. offshore of the south jetty.
Once constructed, the USACE-managed project will provide a holistic defense against future storms, beach erosion and sea level rise, the agency said in a news release.
In addition, it will foster a more resilient coastline, allowing more efficient and less costly recovery in the wake of any future severe storm impacts, significantly increasing the protection of homes, businesses and infrastructure from coastal storms, while saving the taxpayer's money.
The project, under the Stafford Act, is eligible for emergency beach renourishment following significant storm events at 100 percent federal cost.
Initial work at Fernandina Beach, northeast of Jacksonville, had been projected to start in June, the federal agency noted, but could commence as soon as mid-April 2025, depending on the contractor's readiness and ability to mobilize.
Marinex Construction plans to stage its equipment at the Dolphin Avenue parking lot in the beach town. As a result, the Sadler Road beach access may be temporarily blocked for equipment delivery and removal.
The construction will likely occur around the clock, seven days a week until completed, USACE said and will undoubtedly include backup alarms, lights and other noise associated with active work zones.
Sand will be pumped onto the beach from offshore and graded into place by dozers and other equipment. Crews will be working within approximately 1,000-ft. intervals, which will lead to sections of the beach being closed off.
To ensure public safety, beach access will be restricted in the active construction zone but will remain open elsewhere along the shore. The federal agency noted that safety personnel will be on site to direct the general public away from potential hazards.
The latest renourishment of Fernandina Beach is estimated to conclude November 2025 and periodic upgrades are expected to occur in five-year cycles determined by the extent of storm impact, wave erosion and sea level rise.
