The beach construction for Kill Devil Hills’ nourishment project is anticipated to begin on Monday around the area of First Street, proceeding to the south and then head back north.
The Kill Devil Hills portion of the project will only be taking place from Prospect Avenue to the border with Kitty Hawk covering approximately 2.6 miles and take around 25-to-35 days.
On Saturday, a 500-foot section at the Walker Street Beach Access will be closed while a sub-line is being delivered and put into place. Sub-lines are the pipes used to pump sand from the dredge onto the beach.
The Fifth Street Beach Access remains closed and will remain closed during the construction of the southern portion of the project. There will be limited pedestrian access depending on when equipment is being mobilized in the access. At this time, there is no set date for the access re-opening.
On Monday, drivers can expect periodic closures of North Virginia Dare Trail (N.C. 12/The Beach Road) between Fifth Street and New Bern Street as construction equipment is delivered and moved on to the beach.
Closures associated with the beach nourishment project are done to ensure the safety of the public. Active construction and staging areas will be clearly marked and secured with fencing and ribbon to form a protective barrier.
Due to the potential hazards to the public that are presented by heavy equipment and construction activities, these areas will also be monitored 24/7 by security personnel. To prevent accidents, injuries, and interruptions, the public is asked to avoid active construction sites whenever possible and to exercise caution near construction fencing and staging areas.
“We understand that summer is an inconvenient time for the beach nourishment project to be taking place, but it is the safest time for the crews,” the town said in an email Friday. “Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process, as beach nourishment is vital to the future of our communities.”
Looking for answers to general project questions, funding and maintenance, the construction process, and more visit the FAQs page on the More Beach To Love website.
How long will construction affect my property on the Outer Banks?
Approximately 1,000 feet of the beach will be directly impacted during construction at any given time—and a portion of this area that is under construction may also be closed to ensure public safety during these construction operations.
Beach nourishment construction operations are anticipated to impact the properties along that particular stretch of shoreline for a period of three to six days, although this can change depending on a variety of factors. Once a particular section of sand is pumped into place that area will likely be reopened for use within 24-48 hours.
How does this affect my beach day? You will still be able to enjoy days at the beach even with the project taking place. Throughout the construction process, the contractor will strive to maintain access to the beach; however, there may be areas that will be temporarily closed for safety reasons. You will still be able to get to the beach and set-up to the north or south of the active project zone, but this zone will be closed to the public for safety reasons.
What steps are being taken to protect sea turtles and their nests during beach nourishment?
To protect sea turtles and their nests throughout the duration of the beach nourishment projects, turtle monitoring will be performed during the day as well as in the evening hours along the beaches of the Outer Banks.
To minimize the risk to turtles during dredging, relocation trawling will be used ahead of a hopper dredge as an avoidance and minimization measures to reduce the risk of potential lethal take of Endangered Species Act-listed species. In addition to onshore monitors, there will be a designated person aboard each dredge in the offshore borrow areas that will be assigned the task of monitoring sea turtle activity during the projects.
Sea turtle nests that are located within a project area will be safely relocated by authorized personnel to a nearby stretch of shoreline that will not be affected by construction during beach nourishment.
