ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Rain soaked the First Coast on Tuesday, offering a reminder of the flood risks facing St. Augustine as city, state, and federal leaders invest millions of dollars in projects designed to protect the nation’s oldest city from rising water.
From the beach to the bayfront, crews are working on multiple efforts aimed at reducing erosion and improving resilience against coastal flooding.
Despite the rainy weather and standing water in some areas, some visitors found an upside to the conditions.
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“Days like this it’s perfect because like you don’t have to wait in line, there’s nobody out,” one visitor said.
Across the inlet, waves crashed along the pier, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues work to protect St. Augustine Beach from erosion.
About every five years, the Corps pumps sand onto eroded sections of the beach. The most recent nourishment project covered three miles of shoreline and cost $33 million, funded by the federal government.
The Corps and the City of St. Augustine are also considering larger solutions to address coastal flooding citywide. City Resilience Officer Jessica Beach said the city has requested a report from the Army Corps of Engineers examining the cost, design, and impacts of several potential options.
Meanwhile, work is already underway along the bayfront.
Florida Department of Transportation crews are replacing the seawall along State Road A1A from the Bridge of Lions to Charlotte Street. The project is expected to create a more resilient barrier between Matanzas Bay and downtown St. Augustine.
“So when you see the work they’re doing here, it seems like they’ve kind of got something under control,” tourist Jesse Arch said.
According to FDOT, the project will replace the existing post-and-chain barrier with a solid concrete wall standing about 3.5 feet tall. Much of the work is being completed from barges in the bay.
The $19.9 million project began in June and is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
“We are expecting it to protect the roadway more against king tides, and it will also be more resilient for some of those really frequent storms,” said Renata Di Gregorio with FDOT.
The new seawall will not be completed until next fall, meaning downtown St. Augustine will go through another season of king tides before the project is finished.
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