Beach replenishment in southern Delaware will be finished much sooner than anticipated thanks to the arrival of a third dredging ship.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor Weeks Marine began operations in Rehoboth Beach in April, with plans to move south down the coast and complete work midsummer. Southern beaches, such as Fenwick Island and South Bethany, had no choice but to accept that their beaches may be closed for replenishment in July, during peak beach season.
Now, the third dredge will start at Fenwick Island in mid-May and move north to meet the operations already underway. The project is now expected to be fully completed in Bethany Beach in late June, pending weather.
Background:Work begins soon to get Delaware beaches ready for the summer. Sand replenishment details.
Here’s the updated information.
Rehoboth Beach
Amount of sand: About 196,000 cubic yards.
Placement of sand: Between the city tennis courts on North Surf Avenue and the Rehoboth Avenue area.
Pipe landing: Between Olive and Virginia avenues.
Timeline: Operations are underway, with work proceeding north from the pipe landing and then south of it. As of Tuesday, work was taking place in the area of the Henlopen Hotel. Work is expected to be completed mid-May.
More:New boardwalk hotel projects designed to reflect Rehoboth Beach’s past move forward
Dewey Beach
Amount of sand: About 194,000 cubic yards.
Placement of sand: Between Salisbury Street and the Beach Avenue area.
Pipe landing: Between Read and Rodney streets.
Timeline: Work will begin upon completion in Rehoboth (around mid-May), first proceeding north from the pipe and then south of it. Work is expected to be completed mid-June.
Bethany Beach
Amount of sand: About 245,000 cubic yards.
Placement of sand: Between Third Street and the Wellington Park area.
Pipe landing: Near Campbell Place.
Timeline: Work will begin upon completion in Dewey Beach or South Bethany Beach, whichever finishes first. Work is expected to begin in early June and finish by the end of the month, first proceeding north from the pipe and then south of it.
More:Beach season is near. Here’s your guide to parking at the Delaware beaches for 2023.
South Bethany Beach
Amount of sand: About 287,000 cubic yards.
Placement of sand: Between North 5th Street and the northern end of Fenwick Island State Park.
Pipe landing: Between South Second and South Third streets.
Timeline: Work will begin upon completion in Fenwick Island, which is expected to be in late May or June. Work will first proceed north from the pipe and then south of it.
Fenwick Island
Amount of sand: About 207,000 cubic yards.
Placement of sand: Between the area of James Street and Lighthouse Road.
Pipe landing: Between Dagsboro and Cannon streets.
Timeline: Work will begin upon arrival of the third dredge in mid-May and is expected to be completed in late May or June. Work will first proceed north from the pipe and then south of it.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught
