Southern Shores outlines 2027 beach-nourishment plan; bids, financing and interlocal approvals expected

Town Manager Cliff Ogburn updated the council on the planned 2027 beach-nourishment project and its financing timeline at the Sept. 1 meeting.

Ogburn said the plan is to put roughly 375,000 cubic yards of sand on the full length of the beach and design the project for a six-year lifespan, compared with the more than 1,000,000 cubic yards placed in 2022. "The plan is to bid approximately 375,000 cubic yards of sand," Ogburn said. He estimated the project cost at $6,734,000 and said Dare County, using its beach-nourishment occupancy tax fund, would pay approximately one-half of that cost.

The town expects bids to go out at the end of the month with bids likely returned in October or November. Ogburn said the county will hold the contract under the interlocal agreement; the town will need approval from the Local Government Commission for project financing and council will later decide whether to proceed once the interlocal agreement and financing details are finalized.

Council members discussed scheduling and likely action dates; Ogburn said the earliest award could be in early 2027 with construction in spring–summer 2027. No formal commitment was made at the Sept. 1 meeting; the council will consider final authorization once bids, financing and the interlocal agreement are in place.