PHOTO: Equipment Begins to Arrive at Fernandina Beach

Manson Construction crews have begun staging equipment for the upcoming Nassau County project at Fernandina Beach.

According to the Army Corps’ Jacksonville District, maintenance dredging of U.S. Naval Station Kings Bay and sand placement at Fernandina Beach and Fort Clinch State Park is anticipated to begin mid-December.

The Corps estimates that the contractor will place about 340,000 cubic yards at Fernandina Beach and 170,000 cubic yards at Fort Clinch State Park, with approx 930,000 cubic yards of non-beach compatible sand between the approved nearshore disposal area and an offshore disposal site.

The City of Fernandina Beach reported yesterday that the fusing stations for the beach renourishment project have been set based on operational considerations and minimal impact on homes.

“One is between the Fort Clinch boundary and Beach Access 16 North, the other is just south of Beach Access 6. There will be significant and constant equipment and vehicles on the beach for the next few months,” the City said.

The dredging and beach renourishment is expected to last for approximately three months. USACE also added that the works will end before March 31, which is the end of the environmental turtle window allowing hopper dredging.

Sponsored by the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and the City of Fernandina Beach, the project is critical to commercial cargo transiting the port and also to the Navy base, which shares the entrance channel.