Replenishment ongoing at IR inlet’s north-side beach

Roughly one month into the emergency replenishment work on the beach north of the Indian River Inlet, the state is reporting about a third of this winter’s phase of the project is complete.

Twice this past year – once in March and again in August – the dune along the northbound lanes of Route 1 was breached by the Atlantic Ocean. Following the second breach, the state ($15 million) and federal government ($10 million) announced $25 million had been secured to pump up to 800,000 cubic yards of sand along a mile-long stretch of the beach north of the inlet. The sand for the project is coming from shoals found in the inlet, in waters immediately west of the inlet bridge crossing.

There are two phases to this dredging and replenishment project. Looking toward a late-February finish, the total targeted amount of sand for phase one this year is 380,000 cubic yards. Equipment mobilization for the project began in late November. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Dec. 23 that its contractor, Dredgit Corp., had dredged 131,000 cubic yards of sand since work began Dec. 2.

DNREC said Dredgit is operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including throughout the holidays, to meet project goals.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will lead the way in the second phase of the dredging in 2025.

The north-side beach at Delaware Seashore State Park is closed while work is taking place. DNREC said it continues to monitor the situation and will coordinate with the contractor on reopening this popular area when it can be deemed safe for park visitors and surfers.

In other action being taken to protect the northbound lanes of Route 1, the Delaware Department of Transportation just finished installing 650 feet of sheet pile between the eastern edge of the roadway and the western edge of the dune. That work began in early November.

For more updates on the project, go to de.gov/irnorth.