US Army Corps of Engineers awards nearly $33 million contract to renourish Fernandina Beach, dredge US Naval Station Kings Bay

Jacksonville, FL — It'll begin next month.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has awarded a nearly $33 million contract to the Dutra Group to renourish Fernandina Beach, as well as carry out the next scheduled dredging of US Naval Station Kings Bay.

According to the Corps, the renourishment will start near Fort Clinch State Park's coast boundary, near New York Avenue, and will go as far south as Sadler Road.

It's estimated the renourishment at Fernandina Beach will involve about 740,000 cubic yards of sand. We’re told the contractor will also disperse about 1,020,000 cubic yards of non-beach compatible sand, just offshore.

They're actually planning on getting some of the sand used in this project from dredging the Kings Bay Entrance Channel, which they say will save about $13.5 million.

Construction is set to begin in December and will last about 3 months. The dredging will end before March 31, 2018,  due to turtle restrictions.

The Corps says this project is critical to the port and also to the Navy base, so cargo can get through.