FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has started construction on the first of two buried secant seawalls to protect State Road (S.R.) A1A in southern Flagler and northern Volusia counties.

This is one of the longest, continuous sections of S.R. A1A where drivers enjoy unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean. However, that proximity to the sand and waves also makes this segment of A1A vulnerable to storms.

Work on the first seawall is proceeding south from South Central Avenue in Flagler Beach to one-half mile north of Highbridge Road in Volusia County. Later this summer, crews will start work on the second wall, which stretches from Sunrise Avenue to Marlin Drive in Ormond-by-the-Sea. Each wall is approximately 1.3 miles long.

FDOT will have a table at Flagler Beach First Friday from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Veterans Park in downtown Flagler Beach. Project representatives will be available to answer questions about the project.

FDOT expedited the seawall project following the recommendations of the S.R. A1A Resiliency Strike Team, which includes representatives from FDOT, the City of Flagler Beach, Flagler County, Volusia County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

“State Road A1A is a treasured corridor that provides tremendous quality of life and economic vitality to the communities along its length,” said FDOT District Five Secretary John E. Tyler, P.E. “Our goal through this project was to develop a plan through community partnership and start construction as quickly as possible. At the same time, we have ensured all steps are taken to protect the natural environment.”

Some dune walkovers will be temporarily removed as part of the project. Beachgoers will be able to access the beach from nearby walkovers, and the beach area in front of the walls will be open for public use. The public walkovers across from the water tower, near Gamble Rogers State Park, and near Highbridge Road will remain open throughout the project to provide beach access. FDOT and the other A1A Resiliency Project partners remind everyone to stay off the dunes and be mindful of construction activities.

FDOT will replace the walkovers as work on each wall section is finished. The project team will coordinate closely with the walkover owners and will limit the amount of time each walkover is closed as much as possible.

The Department is adhering to state and federal regulations to protect sea turtles and other wildlife. During sea turtle nesting season, no work can begin until an inspector who is approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inventories the beach for any nesting activity. No work will be done within 10 feet of a nest, and all work will be done during daylight hours.

The seawall project is being constructed using an innovative phased design-build approach that allows design, permitting, and some pre-construction coordination to occur concurrently. Using this approach, FDOT completed the design, obtained necessary environmental permits, and started work less than a year after the interagency team’s recommendations were delivered.

The secant wall design is the same as what was constructed from North 18th Street to Osprey Drive in northern Flagler Beach in 2019. The wall incorporates reinforced concrete piles, which are then capped. The entire wall will be covered with sand and vegetation that appears as a regular, natural dune. A video showing how the wall is constructed, along with project updates, can be found on the project website at www.CFLRoads.com/project/452444-1.

Construction of the first wall is anticipated to be finished in fall 2024, and all work is expected to be done by fall 2025. The project cost, including design, is about $117 million and will use state and federal funds.

FDOT is coordinating with Flagler County and the USACE on their upcoming beach renourishment projects, which are expected to begin in July.