Charlotte County officials expect to open the southern portion of a beach access restoration project by June 23, according to Community Services Director Tommy Scott. The update was presented during a Charlotte County Commissioners workshop held on June 17.
The work includes opening the southern roundabout and adding 77 parking spaces, increasing total capacity to 350. Two contractors are working on separate components of the project—one on curbing and sidewalks, the other on asphalt paving—to meet the timeline.
Scott said temporary restroom services will be provided through portalets until permanent facilities can be constructed. The site also includes ADA-compliant sidewalks and new ADA beach wheelchairs to improve accessibility.
Environmental fencing, which was installed during the initial project phase, will remain in place permanently to protect sea turtles. The fencing includes black mesh screening designed to guide turtles away from pedestrian areas. The screening may be removed once dune restoration is complete.
The county completed an earlier phase of the project in April, which included the removal of damaged boardwalks, the installation of environmental fencing, and stormwater cleanup. Public Works assisted with asphalt edging and compacting of parking areas during that phase.
Once the southern portion is open, crews will begin completing the northern section of the site. The updated sequence is intended to allow phased access for the public while continuing construction.
Scott said the procurement process for concrete, curbing, and asphalt vendors is complete, and current work is focused on meeting accessibility and safety requirements by the target date. He noted that weather conditions may affect the timeline, but efforts are underway to stay on schedule.
Videos documenting progress are being released by the county communications department.
Future work includes the construction of permanent restrooms, the installation of lighting, and repairs to the boardwalk and playground areas. Timelines for those elements are currently undetermined, and funding sources have not yet been identified.
For more information, visit www.charlottecountyfl.gov.
