A project to widen the beach surrounding the San Clemente Pier has wrapped up, for now, just in time for the unofficial start of the summer season. Beach crowds flocking to the area may notice a more expansive beach, offering up more towel and play space than in recent years. Leslea Meyerhoff, San Clemente’s coastal administrator, did a final walk through on Thursday, May 23, with the U.
S. Army Corps of Engineer project managers and the contractor, Manson Construction, calling the completion of the first phase a “significant milestone.” The city, along with the project partners, will hold an event to commemorate the long awaited replenishment at 2 p.
m. on May 31. Originally, the contractor was only expecting to finish spreading about 92,000 cubic yards of new sand as part of the first phase, so getting an estimated 140,000 cubic yards was welcome news, Meyerhoff said.
The contractor is still in the process of demobilization, with construction material expected to be off the beach in coming days so people can enjoy the brand new sand, she said. A submerged pipe is scheduled to be removed next week. “It’s very noticeable, especially on the south side of the pier where they were able to build out about 75 feet of beach width,” Meyerhoff said.
When the project resumes next fall, the sand will be filled in on the north side of the pier, she said. The sand, because it was brought from the bottom of the ocean, is a bit darker in color, but that is expected to mix in with.
