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Croatan Beach replenishment pushed back

Last week, bids for the project came in higher than the anticipated $1.7 million, according to Project Manager Jim White.

VIRGINIA BEACH (WVEC) — A replenishment project meant to protect properties and the quality of life at Croatan Beach is put on hold a little longer.

The project was expected to start this fall, but a financial issue put the city in a bind.

Last week, bids for the project came in higher than the anticipated $1.7 million, according to Project Manager Jim White. That means officials will have to search for another company and alternate way of replacing sand to extend the shoreline, which has been battered by past nor’easters.

"Things never happen as fast as you want them to happen,” said Michael Kelly, President of the Croatan Civic League. "I have good confidence that they're going to get it done."

Kelly showed 13News Now the dunes that have been reinforced by taking sand from the Rudee Inlet. While the replenishment project will not be done in time for storm season, Kelly said he’s confident the dunes will withstand the storm surge.

He says sand has accumulated on the shoreline more than in past years.

"When this happens again, because we know it's going to happen again, there will be enough sand that we won't have nearly the type of erosion we've had in the past," Kelly said.

At the latest, White said he expects the sand to start moving into place in April with a completion date sometime in the Summer.

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