Upham Beach To See Closings Until February 2018

ST. PETE BEACH, FL – A major construction project on the Pinellas County coast will see portions of Upham Beach closed over the next few months.

The $9.5 million beach stabilization project on the north end of St. Pete Beach is set to start Tuesday, Aug. 1. The construction project will install four permanent T-groins on the beach, replacing yellow sand-filled tubes that form five T-groin structures on the beach.

The construction project will start at the south end of the Upham Beach and proceed north. The work is expected to complete by February 2018.

According to Pinellas County Environmental Management, no more than half the beach will be closed to the public at one time. The county said more sections of the beach could potentially be closed for short periods as a safety precaution, depending on construction activity.

The project will be funded by Tourist Development Tax funds dedicated to beach nourishment. Fifty percent of the total cost will be reimbursed from a state grant.

The temporary sand-filled tubes were installed in 2005 to test their effectiveness in slowing beach erosion on Upham Beach. Pinellas County reports Upham Beach is one of the fastest eroding beaches in Florida.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined the structures were effective and provide improved storm protection, slow erosion and save money over time through reduced need for replacing sand.

The Pinellas County Environmental Management Division is responsible for coastal management projects, including beach stabilization and nourishment projects.

For more information about Pinellas County Public Works and beach stabilization and nourishment projects, visit www.pinellascounty.org/publicworks.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department