Construction crews work to fill and repair dunes on Neptune Beach through Christmas

While many people had the day off for Christmas, construction crews in the Jacksonville beaches area have been hard at work with a beach renourishment project.

Crews are working from Walnut Street to Florida Boulevard in Neptune Beach, and are expecting to finish working on this stretch on Wednesday.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spoke to neighbors who said they’re glad to see the progress being made.

The shoreline and dunes took a beating during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and then again when Hurricane Irma arrived in 2017.

STORY: Nearly $16 million Duval County Shore Protection Project begins Wednesday

"Whenever I come into work they’re here and when I leave, they’re still here. It seems like they’re working around the clock,” said Clarence Richmond.

Richmond is referring to the construction crews on the Jacksonville beaches.

Since Richmond works at The Pier, he gets to see the progress made by the crews as they work to repair the dunes and fill the beach.

"Everyone seems real happy they’ve come to repair the beach after all the hurricanes came through,” Richmond told Action News Jax.

In the last three months Richmond has been working at The Pier, he told Action News Jax he can tell the difference...already.

"The sand looks totally different—once they’ve done it—it looks nice and clean now,” said Richmond.

One fisherman told Cole he thinks it's a good thing, but didn't expect to see anyone working out there on Tuesday.

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"It’s a holiday, so I think everybody is just staying at home,” said Marei Assiri.

Action News Jax first told you August about the $16 million dollar deal reached with the federal government to restore the beaches.

It will include the 8-mile stretch along Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, as well as Hanna Park.

The sand being used to fill and fix the dunes is dredged from 7-miles off shore from Duval County.

About 170 million gallons of sand will be used to complete the entire project.

STORY: Hurricane Irma destroys sea oats, dunes in Atlantic Beach

STORY: Nearly 11 months after Hurricane Matthew, work to repair dunes continues

“The beach looks great. Since they’ve finished, they finished this part, right here under the pier probably about two to three weeks ago,” said Richmond.

On Thursday, crews are expected to begin beach fill and dune repair in Atlantic Beach, just north of One Ocean.

Olsen Associates, the company working on the beach repairs, hopes to  have renourishment completed in the new year.

Cox Media Group