Contractors begin ME 38 shoreline protection project; $10.8 million for 32 breakwaters

Travis Moore, a project manager at CBRE, told the Cameron Parish agenda meeting that the ME 38 shoreline protection project has started and will install 32 segmented breakwaters at Little Florida, Rutherford and Long Beach as part of a $10,800,000 contract. "This is a, shoreline protection project. $10,800,000, 32 breakwaters at Little Florida, Rutherford, and Long Beach," Moore said.

Moore compared the design to earlier work at Rockefeller Refuge and said the first breakwater is already under construction, with crews light-loading from the ship channel when weather permits. He said the segmented breakwaters include previously installed units (marked in purple/pink in his presentation) plus additional locations added late in design (yellow) and a further eastward sequence (blue).

The project schedule is weather-dependent. "This is scheduled to wrap up middle, let's say, first, second quarter," Moore said, adding that weather and light-loading windows could extend the contract. Moore also said the parish and local stakeholders led siting decisions; CBRE's role is technical oversight and pass-through of surplus state funds used for the work.

Local participants asked whether the final three breakwaters (described in Moore's slides as 'yellow') are fixed or could be moved. Moore said those were added because surplus funds exceeded the bid amount and that if funds remain at the end of construction a change order to install additional breakwaters would be an option.

Moore acknowledged Cameron Parish staff, the port and the design and construction teams and said the outreach plan includes sharing slides and project materials with the community. He and regional CBRE staff said they will return with periodic updates until the project closes out.