News Flash

Tybee Island, Ga. – (January 16, 2019) To repair damage to the dune system caused by Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, and to protect better against future storm surge on the island, the City of Tybee will be working before the summer season begins to enhance the sand dune defenses on the south end of the island. With approval of the project from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, sand will be trucked in and placed on the most landward side of the beach to enhance protection of Tybee’s commercial Strand area from direct water incursion during a hurricane.

Both Hurricanes Irma and Michael showed that the dune structures on Tybee provide an excellent barrier protection for points farther inland. Although rising waters did produce significant damage, the extent of that damage was reduced at least in part because little wave action reached past the dunes to cause further harm to businesses and homes.

The bulk of the project will begin immediately following the Critz Tybee Run, which will take place on the island between February 1^st and 3^rd.

Beach access ramps began to be removed on January 14^th, at 17^th Street. Next, the 18^th Street crossover will be taken up, and finally the Tybrisa cross-over will be removed by the end of January. The beach will remain accessible from the Pavilion access or points further north or beyond the 19^th Street ramp to the south. The beach itself, between the Pier and 19th, will have limited access and use due to the project activity. Work is expected from 7 AM until 7 PM, Monday through Saturday.

New access ramps, using garapa wood, similar to the newly installed crossovers at 14½ and Gulick Streets, will replace these cross-overs after the project completes. Tybrisa’s access should be restored in mid-March, while the 17^th Street cross-over will be rebuilt in late March. The 18^th Street ramp will have a mobility-mat in place which should be available in mid-March.

Due to existing issues from earlier king tides, 19^th Street crossover is currently unusable.  It will be fully in place by mid-April.

The Taylor Street crossover is closed now and will remain closed until the new Marine Science Center is completed, which is scheduled for late February, 2020.