FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler Beach’s iconic pier and dunes took a major hit during Hurricane Ian and now the city says another expensive issue has reared its head. Half of the dune walkovers you use to get to the beach are destroyed, and it could cost over $1 million to replace them.
Though the city is just 6 miles long, it had 53 public access walkovers. As of Tuesday, just 28 are still standing after the storm and the city said repairing and replacing the other 25 is going to be another project the city has to add to its list.
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“One of the most special things about Flagler Beach is our unprecedented access to the Atlantic Ocean,” city manager William Whitson said.
To get full access back to the sands, Whitson said it could cost about $1.1 million.
“We’re going to ask FEMA for the reimbursement, and we believe it’s eligible,” he said.
Just last week, the city closed its iconic pier due to damage and will begin work to replace it late next year.
The dunes will also have to be reinforced as they creep closer to A1A and Whitson said many walkovers will depend on that, too.
“We’re going to have them built back stronger. The angle and the escarpments are steeper now, so we have to have some re-engineering done,” he said.
Whitson said he hopes to have full access back to the beaches by spring and that he’s working with federal and state agencies to try and speed that up.
“You’ve got extra sand I have to have, I have to have engineered plans, I have to have contractors that are available and ready to work I have to have funding,” he said.
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