Summer Haven slated for breach repair after storm passes

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — With a potential tropical cyclone ahead, Summer Haven is bracing for another breach near the river.

Hurricane Dorian created a breach in a small portion of the dune on the south end of Summer Haven, which prompted county officials to vote for emergency funding to fix it.

But according to the county, that construction won't start until after this storm moves through.

Ellis Zahra, who's been vacationing in Summer Haven for the past 73 years told Action News Jax, "The area that breached, which is about a mile south of here, was in an area where no new dune had been built."

He tells Action News Jax the area that was breached near the south end desperately needs to get fixed.

Zahra says it's an area that hasn't had a dune restoration yet, unlike the north end which survived the storm.

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"If you don't get it done sooner, it will just grow. It could close off naturally, but it might just grow, and then it gets to be more time-consuming and more expensive to deal with," Zahra said

St. Johns County commissioners just yesterday voted to spend $500,000 in emergency funds to repair the breach.

"It's the first step to stabilizing the area and what folks maybe don't realize is that the breach flows into the Summer Haven River."

Even with this work on the fast track, construction won't take place until after this storm passes the area this weekend.

St. Johns County is expecting construction bids Monday. Once the contract is awarded, repairs will begin right away with a two- to three-week window slotted for construction until its complete.

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Cox Media Group