Dredge C.R. McCaskill coming soon to Longboat Key

The Longboat Key contractors are back again at work after Tropical Storm Elsa to continue with the town’s 2021 beach renourishment project.

Weeks Marine

Earlier this month, the town and all its contractors temporarily halted the operations to watch the development of this tropical storm.

According to the latest update from the Longboat Key project, Weeks Marine crews are now busily preparing the site for the return of the dredge.

The dredge C.R. McCaskill will be coming to Longboat Key in mid-August to fill beach segment 1, from Greer Island to Broadway Street.

The C.R. McCaskill is a 30” cutter suction dredge, comparable to the E.W. Ellefsen that was used for beach segments 2 and 3.

Beginning July 26th, portions of Greer Island will be closed to the public for vegetation debris clearing. Additionally, intermittent parking and access closures along the North Shore Road area will be necessary to accommodate this work, the officials said.

On the other hand, Kelly Brothers, Inc. resumed construction of the rock groins south of North Shore Road after Hurricane Elsa. Work will continue on these structures, including the construction of S-1 and S-2.

A photograph of ongoing construction of rock groin S-2 between North Shore Road and Broadway Street, July 9, 2021.

Finally, the officials announced that Cottrell Contracting Corp. completed the beach fill in Segment 5 at the south end of the island on July 4th.