Galveston Beach Nourishment Program Nears End

Galveston’s third phase of beach nourishment is wrapping up and that means crews will begin the process of removing the pipe used to complete the project, according to the City of Galveston’s latest announcement.

Around 1 million cubic yards of sand have been pumping since early January widening the beaches by up to 150 feet in some areas.

The $19.5 million project, conducted by Weeks Marine Inc., has replenished more than three miles of beach along Galveston’s seawall between 12th and 61st streets.

Funding for the project was made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Texas General Land Office and the City of Galveston. The project is being administered by the Galveston Park Board.

Known as a ‘pipeline dredge project’, pipes and pumps moved the sand from the Galveston ship channel at Big Reef (east of Apffel Park) to the expansion sites. The entire project took just over four months to complete, the city said.

It is the third sand nourishment project undertaken in Galveston since 2015. The first project was completed in March 2015 and added a half-mile of beach west of the Seawall at Dellanera Park.

The second project, completed in November 2015, added more than 15 blocks of brand new beach along the Seawall west of 61stStreet.

The projects are expected to reduce shoreline erosion and fortify the beaches.

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