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Coastal CIP: Virginia Beach briefs council on dredging, beach renourishment and Rudy Weir upgrade; Sandbridge SSD funds to be held in reserve
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Summary
Coastal staff told council the FY26–31 coastal CIP emphasizes beach renourishment, navigation dredging and neighborhood SSD dredging, and requested increased funding for Rudy Weir replacement and for routine dredge equipment rehab.
Jim White, coastal manager, briefed council on the FY26–31 Coastal Capital Improvement Program, describing beach renourishment, navigational dredging, special service district (SSD) neighborhood dredging, and several project increases and near‑term contracts.
White said the coastal CIP groups projects into three segments: beach replenishment and access (47% of the division’s funding), federal navigation dredging (44%), and SSD neighborhood dredging (9%). The six‑year coastal program totals roughly $192 million in staff materials; appropriations to date are approximately $74 million. He highlighted recently completed projects (Lynnhaven Inlet channel dredging with Army Corps emplacement on Cape Henry, Chesapeake Beach dredging) and near‑term work: Western Branch Lynn Haven River and Old Donation Creek SSD contracts (awarded, start in May), Bayville Creek (bids received, contract award pending), and Sandbridge beach access improvements (contracted, construction deferred until after Labor Day to avoid the season).
White requested increases for several items: continuing local cost support for beach renourishment, expanded annual dredge operations rehab funding to cover periodic major equipment work, and $4 million to restore the Rudy Weir replacement program budget to its planned total to move from study into permitting, design and construction. He also proposed increasing annual funding for planned Eastern and Western Branch Lynnhaven dredging to support an anticipated 8–10 year dredging cycle.
When council members pressed about the quality of material for resort beach replenishment and timing, White said staff are working with the Army Corps to identify better offshore borrow material and that schedule consequences depend on their findings. Councilors also asked where navigational dredge spoils go; White said beach‑quality material is staged at designated dredge material management areas such as Whitehurst and Maple Street in the Cape Henry area, while other navigational spoils are managed at the designated sites.
Budget staff clarified that Sandbridge SSD funds remain intact and will accumulate in the SSD fund balance until appropriated for beach replenishment; the city retains federal cost‑share relationships with the Army Corps although federal appropriations and cost shares have varied historically. White warned staff will need to identify alternate dredge material management sites as some existing sites approach capacity.
No formal vote was taken; council received the briefing and asked staff to continue coordination with the Corps and public‑works modeling.
