Frequently Asked Questions
Where is this project taking place?
The project extends from Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach through Coquina Beach Park to the southern end of the island at Longboat Pass.
Equipment staging areas and accesses will be designated at the Dolphin 2 parking lot at Coquina Beach Park and at the southern staging area by the southern end of the island at Longboat Pass throughout construction. A portion of the public parking and access will be restricted in these locations throughout construction. Please abide by all safety fencing and do not enter the equipment staging areas and access corridors. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
When will the project occur?
The project began February 25, 2021 and will continue through mid-May. The County’s website will continue to be updated throughout the project.
Will the beach be closed during this project?
Portions of the beach will be closed during active construction that may restrict the public from traversing along the shoreline. Please abide by all safety fencing and do not enter the construction area. Progress will be updated on the County’s website periodically throughout construction.
How much sand will be placed as part of this project? How does this compare to previous projects?
The 2021 Coquina Beach Storm Damage Restoration project will place approximately 74,805 cubic yards of sand at Coquina Beach.
To date, the County has participated in eight beach nourishment projects. Approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the County’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts.
| Construction Year |
Project |
Placed Volume (CY) |
Location |
| 1992-93 |
Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project |
2,320,000 |
Central Beach (R-12 to R-36) |
| 2002 |
Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project |
1,900,000 |
Central Beach (R-12 to R-36) |
| 2005-06 |
Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project |
213,000 |
Central Beach (R-12 to R-28) |
| 2011 |
Coquina Beach Nourishment Project |
204,800 |
Coquina Beach (R-35 to R-41) |
| 2013-14 |
Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project |
973,800 |
Central Beach (R-12 to R-36) |
| 2014 |
Coquina Beach Nourishment Project |
251,100 |
Coquina Beach (R-33 to R-41) |
| 2020 |
Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project |
815,000 |
Central Beach (R-12 to R-36) |
| 2020 |
Coquina Beach Nourishment Project |
235,000 |
Coquina Beach (R-36 to R-41) |
Why is this project important?
In 1992-1993, the first beach nourishment of Anna Maria Island was constructed in order to protect critical upland infrastructure. Since then, approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the County’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts. Beach renourishment projects, such as this one, not only provide recreational beach width for the benefit of residents and visitors, but during storm events, the sand also provides critical protection for structures and infrastructure landward of the beach. In addition, the beach provides critical habitat and nesting areas for protected species such as sea turtles and shorebirds.
This beach nourishment management program is very much like a roadway or other such infrastructure, as in once it is built, it must be maintained. The work you see is maintenance that will help ensure continued presence of a sandy beach and storm protection for the upland.
Where does the sand come from that is placed on the beach?
The sand for large-scale beach nourishment projects such as this come from our permitted, offshore “borrow areas”. The borrow area for this project is located about at the south end of Anna Maria Island, in the Longboat Pass channel.
How does the sand get to the beach?
The sand is dredged from the offshore borrow areas by a hydraulic cutter suction dredge, then pumped through a pipeline to the beach as a water/sand slurry. The submerged pipeline comes ashore onto the beach at a designated landing location, and connects to the shore pipeline, which runs laterally along the dry beach. The sand slurry is discharged from the pipeline and bulldozers work the sand to fill the designed construction template.
Who is the construction contractor?
The construction contractor is Cottrell Contracting Corporation.