Pinellas County Dune Restoration
In the wake of Hurricane Idalia, APTIM designed and oversaw construction of an emergency dune project to protect the beaches and upland infrastructure along Pinellas County’s shoreline.
In collaboration with multiple Pinellas County offices, the public, and contractor, APTIM:
- Initiated construction in just seven days, which required obtaining a design consultant, developing construction plans and specifications, and contracting with a marine contractor
- Placed approximately 374,000 tons (267,000 cubic yards) of fill along 11.4 miles of shoreline
- Provided valuable protection during Hurricanes Debbie and Helene
- Received a community engagement award from Pinellas County Government Board of County Commissioners
Project History
Pinellas County, located on the west coast of Florida, experienced extensive damage to their coastline from Hurricane Idalia, which impacted the coast as a Category 4 storm in August 2023. On September 13, 2023, the Pinellas County Public Works Department set a goal to start construction to restore the damaged dunes. In collaboration with the County’s public works, purchasing, budget, and attorneys’ offices; the public; and the contractor, construction began on September 20, 2023. The active project area moved strategically along the coast, as County teams triaged the damage and worked on the most critical areas first.
This emergency project was substantial in scope by both volume and length of shoreline. The project successfully restored protective dunes along 11.4 miles of the county’s coastline, placing approximately 374,000 tons (267,000 cubic yards) of sand. The dune was effective in protecting upland properties from flooding, Nor’easters, and hurricanes, such as 2024 Hurricanes Debbie and Helene.
Project tasks included damage assessments and evaluation of Pinellas County’s shoreline, design of dune restoration, daily construction oversight, field-fit design revisions, and project certification and closeout.
Services Provided
The APTIM team provided planning, permitting, design, construction management, and engineering for the following phases:
- Damage Assessments
- Design and Engineering
- Development of Construction Plans and Specifications
- Construction Oversight and Administration
- Geotechnical Analysis
- Project Closeout and Certification
Learn more about APTIM’s coastal resilience services.
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