Avon beach nourishment to begin soon; Buxton scheduled to start in July

Avon Beach Nourishment To Begin Soon:

The dredge Ellis Island—which was scheduled to arrive in Buxton after July 4—has been released from its previous project earlier than expected. According to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., the Ellis Island will arrive in Dare County on Sunday, June 19.

This schedule change will enable Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. to temporarily assign the Avon beach nourishment project to the Ellis Island earlier than planned while awaiting the arrival of the dredge Liberty Island.

The Ellis Island is expected to start pumping sand onto the beach in Avon on Sunday or Monday (June 19 or 20), from the discharge point located at station 1650+00 (between Ocean View Drive and Greenwood Place). Sand placement will continue moving south to the end of the project area across from Park Drive (just north of ORV Ramp 38).

After the southernmost section of the project has been completed, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. will return to the discharge point between Ocean View Drive and Greenwood Place and start moving north toward the Avon Fishing Pier.

Once the dredging is underway, construction will occur 24/7 (including holidays) unless mechanical issues or rough sea conditions require a shutdown. Weather permitting, project completion is anticipated in August 2022.

Buxton Beach Nourishment:

The Liberty Island—which was previously scheduled to arrive in Avon in late June—is currently expected to arrive in early July in order to complete navigation system upgrades.

Once the Liberty Island arrives, it will take over the Avon beach nourishment while the Ellis Island moves downshore to begin beach nourishment in Buxton.

ORV Ramp 38 Reminder: 

Throughout this summer, Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s off-road vehicle (ORV) Ramp 38 will remain open, but visitors with beach driving permits can expect some intermittent, short-term delays entering and exiting the ramp as beach nourishment equipment is moved safely to and from the beach.

Although the ramp will remain open, the parking lot at ORV Ramp 38 will be closed this summer. Visitors who planned to park in the parking lot at ORV Ramp 38 should instead consider using nearby parking lots at Haulover Sound Access and Kite Point Sound Access.

Visit www.MoreBeachToLove.com for the latest information about all 2022 beach nourishment projects taking place in Dare County, including projected timelines and answers to the most frequently asked questions.