Pass-A-Grille Beach renourishment project making progress despite setbacks [Video]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pass-a-Grille’s beach renourishment project will move into its next phase next week.

Since June, crews have worked to add nearly 150,000 cubic yards of sand to the shoreline starting at the south end. Pinellas County’s Coastal Management Department said as early as Monday, the 3rd Ave. beach access point could reopen.

It took a few bumps in the road to get here. The county hoped to have federal grants fund the project, but when those dollars never came, officials turned to its Tourist Development Tax and state funding. Debby also stalled work for a period of time.

Projects of this nature operate on a 10-year cycle. Rick Falkenstein, owner of the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, said after Hurricane Idalia depleted the shoreline last August, the nourishment was overdue.

“The area you could put a towel down was probably maybe 20 feet wide. From the sand dune to the water,” he said. “(After Idalia) …