July 3, 2022

Kill Devil Hills
Beach Nourishment Update

Please note: The below email includes the most recent information the Town has received and it is subject to change by the contractor at any time. 

The beach nourishment project which began in Kill Devil Hills on June 13, 2022, is progressing nicely. The project is only occurring in about 2.6 miles of our Town,  from the north town line south to Prospect Avenue.

For the majority of the day, the contractors focused their efforts on the area of 2013 North Virginia Dare Trail and 1909 North Virginia Dare Trail. At this time, the construction is moving south. They plan to be pumping sand to the north of Walker Street towards the end of today. They will be escorting some of their equipment to this area. There will be several pieces of equipment held at the Fifth Street Beach Access. Once the holiday passes, they plan to move this equipment also. Active construction and staging areas will be clearly marked and secured with fencing and ribbon to form a protective barrier. Due to the potential hazards to the public that are presented by heavy equipment and construction activities, these areas will also be monitored 24/7 by security personnel. Please avoid the active construction zones and obey all directions from their safety personnel.

The Town has two dredges that have been working on this project. One of them will be leaving for scheduled repairs and maintenance and should arrive back in about two weeks. Fun Fact: Did you know the hopper capacity on a dredge is 4,000 Cubic Yards? That’s equivalent to 330 dump trucks! Crews will continue to work 24/7 on advancing the much-needed project. 

Fourth of July: The contractors will be stopping operations from about 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on the Fourth of July so that the Town's annual fireworks show is not disrupted. 

View our project map to see where construction is taking place, what areas have already been completed, and if there are any closures. The map is updated daily: Town of KDH Beach Nourishment Map

How does this affect my beach day? You will still be able to enjoy days at the beach even with the project taking place. Throughout the construction process, the contractor will strive to maintain access to the beach; however, there may be areas that will be temporarily closed for safety reasons. You will still be able to get to the beach and set-up to the north or south of the active project zone, but this zone will be closed to the public for safety reasons. 

How long will construction affect my property? Approximately 1,000 feet of the beach will be directly impacted during construction at any given time—and a portion of this area that is under construction may also be closed in order to ensure public safety during these construction operations. Once a particular section of sand is pumped into place, that area will likely be reopened for use within 24-48 hours.

Does beach nourishment really work? Doesn’t the sand just eventually wash away?
The primary goal of beach nourishment is to protect infrastructure, such as N.C. Highway 12, from damage due to storm surge and overwash. By widening the existing beaches through nourishment, we are creating a larger buffer between the Atlantic Ocean and the highway, which ultimately provides it with a higher level of protection and stronger defense against storms. It’s important to note that shoreline erosion following a beach nourishment project is expected and does not mean the project was unsuccessful. The additional sand that is moved off the dry sand beach still stays in the system which helps knock down wave energy before it gets to the shoreline.

Looking for answers to general project questions, funding and maintenance, the construction process, and more visit the FAQs page on the More Beach To Love website. 

We understand that summer is an inconvenient time for the beach nourishment project to be taking place, but it is the safest time for the crews. Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process, as beach nourishment is vital to the future of our communities.

Of note: Replies to this email are not received by Town Staff. Emails may be sent to rachel@kdhnc.com or meredith@kdhnc.com