Big Pass dredge plans move forward

With a contractor selected, the city said work on a Lido Key renourishment project is poised to begin by July.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected a contractor for a planned Lido Key shoreline renourishment project and is moving to begin work in July on the first-ever dredging of Big Pass.

The Army Corps awarded a $12.68 million construction contract to Chesapeake, Va.-based Cottrell Contracting Corp. in March. On April 16, the organization issued a notice to proceed for the dredging project, which is being undertaken in partnership with the city of Sarasota.

A schedule and other details are still being finalized.

“It should be wrapped up by late in the year,” City Manager Tom Barwin said at the April 20 City Commission meeting.

The city and Army Corps have been pursuing the project since 2013. The permit authorizes the use of up to 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from Big Pass to renourish 1.6 miles of Lido shoreline.

The project team is authorized to dredge and place sand on the beach during turtle nesting season, but the construction of two sand-retaining groins on the shoreline cannot begin until after the season ends Oct. 31. The city said the project team will monitor for turtle and bird nests.