Avon beach nourishment project making steady progress

During the first week of the Avon beach nourishment project, the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., has made steady progress.

According to Dare County, until Friday, the dredge Ellis Island delivered 25 loads of sand onto the beach and placed approximately 250,000 cubic yards of sand between Greenwood Place and ORV Ramp 38.

This volume is equivalent to approximately 25 percent of the total volume for the Avon beach nourishment project. The 3,200-foot section of beach south of Greenwood Place has been nourished.

Over the weekend, pumping proceed north from the landing point near Greenwood Place, nourishing the shoreline toward the Avon Pier.

As of today (June 27), Avon beach nourishment will be paused until the dredge Liberty Island arrives in Dare County in early July.

“Starting on Monday, June 27, 2022, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. plans to use the Ellis Island to start pumping in Buxton,” the County said in the update. “A discharge point was installed on the beach near the south end of Tower Circle on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Nourishment will commence from that point, and it will continue moving south to the end of the project area, which is located near the original location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.”

The second dredge, Liberty Island, is currently expected to arrive in Dare County in early July (after the Independence Day holiday). Once the Liberty Island arrives, it will pick up the Avon beach nourishment project while the Ellis Island continues working to perform beach nourishment in Buxton.