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Tons of new sand being delivered to renourish Sanibel's beaches

WGCU | By Michael Braun and Andrea Melendez
Published December 19, 2023 at 2:23 PM EST
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.

Sand trucks have started rolling on a project designed to help renourish the sand on Sanibel beaches dispersed by Hurricane Ian's aggressive storm surge and howling winds in 2022.

The first of what will be from 120 to 160 trucks, each hauling two to three loads of sand per day, commenced delivering at daybreak on Tuesday.
New sand to re-nourish Sanibel

Crews started placing sand from the Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1).

The project will force the temporary closing of the Gulfside City Park Beach parking lot for approximately one week. The Donax Road Beach Access is also closed until further notice.

The entirety of the sand renourishment project is expected to run until early April 2024. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in to the beaches.

Island officials said the job will cause truck traffic across the causeway and along island roadways between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some work being completed on Saturdays as needed. Officials also said while mororists will initially notice the influx of trucks, the loads will be spread out along the routes as the day progresses.

City of Sanibel
/
WGCU

There are 5 stretches of beach where sand will be hauled in with 1-2 stretches likely being worked on simultaneously throughout the duration of the project. Once an area is complete, crews will move on to the next.

Beachgoers will be temporarily prohibited from beach sections being worked on, while the other areas of the beach will remain open. 

The sand being used to renourish the Sanibel beaches comes from Vulcan Materials Company in Moore Haven.

Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
1 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
2 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
3 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
4 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
5 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
6 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
7 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
8 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
9 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
10 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
11 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
12 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
13 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
14 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
15 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
16 of 16  — WGCUSanibelSand1219823AM
Crews began adding sand along Sanibel’s coast as part of the Sanibel beach renourishment project. Approximately 400,000 tons of sand will be brought in over the next four months. The first truckloads of sand began arriving on the island Tuesday morning around 6 am. They are working at Donax Road Beach Access west to Gulfside City Park (Reach 4) and from Tradewinds Drive Access west to Bowman's Beach (Reach 1). The beach is still open to the public but parking in some areas may be closed. Between 120 and 160 trucks will be hauling two to three loads of sand to the Island each day. This is to prepare the beach after Hurricane Ian devastated the island a year ago.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU

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Hurricane Recovery WGCU NewsSanibelHurricane Season 2023Hurricane Ian
Michael Braun and Andrea Melendez
See stories by Michael Braun and Andrea Melendez
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