The Virginian-Pilot
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NAGS HEAD, N.C.
Beach nourishment -- the controversial $36 million project that aims to protect oceanfront property and restore 10 miles of eroded beaches -- is under way in Nags Head. Work began late Tuesday and continues today near the 15.5-mile marker.
From hotel balconies and manmade dunes, bikini-clad bystanders watched this morning and afternoon as a giant pipe spit sand onto the beach in front of the 4-story Dune Lantern hotel.
"I think it's worth the money," said Debi Parker, a part-time Nags Head resident who was lounging near the construction zone earlier today. "They needed this done a long time ago."
About 500 feet of the beach is blocked off by temporary fencing and caution tape, but bystanders can still get a good look at the process. Visible in the distance, a hopper dredge called the Liberty Island is sucking sand from an offshore sandbar and sending it through a piping system to the beach. Once there, the sand is moved around by bulldozers.
The project contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., will eventually have three dredges working offshore. Between now and October, they aim to nourish 10 miles of beach between Bonnett Street at Mile Post 11 and the town's southern border at Mile Post 21.
"It's not going to work forever," said Andy Hollis, a former Maryland city planner who was watching the work from his Dune Lantern balcony today. "But it makes perfect sense to try to do it."
More information about the project, including an anticipated timeline, is available at the Nags Head town website.
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Better Planning
It is important to try to improve the economy and travel being a part of that. Yes, the nourishment project will improve the beach, improve tourism, etc but shouldn't someone planned this to occur any other time that prime time summer vacation??? Pretty bad planning on someone's part and these vacationers that have already booked are not being offered compensation for the inconvenience they have to experience. And it's no small inconvenience. The work is being done in front of the house to the beach 24/7..lights, noise, port-o-potties, parking, etc. I can't believe the town has chosen NOW, prime tourist season to do this.