The Surfside Beach renourishment scheme, conducted by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD), is officially underway, the the Town of Surfside Beach, SC, said in its latest release.

The hopper dredger arrived on site yesterday and the GLDD crew started with the sand pumping operations immediately.

An area from approximately the Myrtle Swash (between 4th and 5th Avenue North) to 7th Avenue North is currently closed.

“In zones such as these, most of the dune area is already at the targeted 6 foot elevation, so the construction fencing is placed to permit walking behind the active project area, without trampling the dunes. In lower lying areas, this may not be possible, and walkers will have to exit the beach and re-enter beyond the work area,” said the town.

Project overview

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, recently awarded a $26.3 million contract for the Myrtle Beach Storm Damage Reduction Project to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC, which will place approximately 1.2 million cubic yards of material on North Myrtle Beach and Garden City and Surfside Beaches.

This project is funded through federal emergency beach rehabilitation funding from Hurricane Matthew, along with cost-shared construction funding appropriated through Congress.

The contractor will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week during construction, usually completing up to 500 feet per day, barring mechanical or weather/sea condition delays.