Heavy equipment arriving for Ponte Vedra beachfill project

Starting this week, St. Johns County (FL) will temporarily close public access to Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Parking and beach access as it begins the $38.6 million Ponte Vedra Beach Restoration Project.

Due to the mobilization of large contractor equipment and dredging supplies and for the safety of the public, the initial closing of the parking lot and beach access will be from Monday, March 18 to Thursday, March 28, and again from Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5, the county said in a statement.

As the project progresses to the estimated completion date of August, the parking lot may be closed again intermittently for restoration-related activities.

“Public safety is our top priority during this project,” said St. Johns County Emergency Management Director Joe Giammanco. “However, we understand the importance of beach access during spring break and the Easter Weekend holidays and so our teams are being very practical and prudent with this project. St. Johns County is known for its beautiful beaches and we want to ensure we provide as much access as possible during this project.”

The contractor, Weeks Marine will restore storm-damaged dunes and berms to provide storm protection to upland infrastructure with more than two million cubic yards of sand dredged in from the ocean.

The project is stretching from the St. Johns-Duval County line to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve – about nine miles of coastline.