HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20140926_BeachRenourishmentContract.docxPRESS RELEASE: Contacts: Tybee Island City Hall
For immediate release (912) 786-4573
Billy E. Birdwell, Senior Public Affairs Specialist
(912) 652-5014
Corps Awards Contract for Tybee Island Beach Renourishment
Tybee Island, Ga. – (September 26, 2014) Tybee Island will gain greater protection against storms from additional sand reinforcing the beach there. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Savannah District awarded a $10 million contract Monday for the next shoreline protection project at this coastal Georgia community. Shoreline protection is also known as beach renourishment.
The City of Tybee Island and the Corps of Engineers jointly sponsor the project. The Corps will oversee the construction. The federal government funds approximately 61 percent of the
cost while the city funds the rest. This is the first beach renourishment since 2008 at the ocean-front community.
Tybee Island Mayor Jason Buelterman pointed out the years of work people from the city and the Corps of Engineers put in to make the project happen. “This extremely important project
is the culmination of several years’ worth of hard work on the part of the Savannah District USACOE, the City of Tybee and our volunteer Tybee Beach Task Force,” Buelterman said. “Many
thanks to all of those who contributed their time and talents to making this renourishment project a reality. We also want to thank the Governor, our local legislative delegation, the
County Commission, and our representatives in Washington for working as a team to ensure sufficient funding was available.”
“We will pull beach-quality sand from about a mile off shore,” said Spencer Davis, the Corps’ manager for this project. “We will pump the sand through a submerged steel pipeline to the
shore where workers will use large construction equipment to place and smooth the sand.” Approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of sand will be added to approximately 3 miles of beach
front from the north beach near Old Fort Screven to 18th Street, south of the public fishing pier. The project includes a small portion along Tybee Creek, known locally as the Back
River.
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois, with expertise in this type of work, earned the contract. Work can begin as early as Oct. 15 and will take approximately four
months to complete.
As with similar past projects, sections of the beach will be closed to the public while workers operate in those locations. As workers move to another section of beach, the newly renourished
portions of the beach will reopen.
Adding sand to the shoreline helps protect the community from waves generated by passing storms. They have a secondary benefit of enhancing public beaches.
About the US Army Corps of Engineers: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District plays a major role in water resource projects throughout the region. The District operates three
hydroelectric dam and reservoir projects on the Savannah River (Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and J. Strom Thurmond); maintains the federal shipping channels at the Savannah and Brunswick
harbors; and processes Regulatory (stream/wetland) permits for development projects within the state of Georgia. The District also oversees a multi-million dollar military construction
program at 11 Army and Air Force installations in Georgia and North Carolina. The District provides expertise across a wide range of disciplines--from engineering, architecture and
design to construction, master planning and environmental services. Learn more at www.sas.usace.army.mil.
About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches,
and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee
Post Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs.
Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest,
the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off
the Walter W. Parker Pier and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs,
and making sure hatchlings make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/, and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.
org/.
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