Nags Head approves financing steps for roughly $38 million beach nourishment project; dredges expected in late May

The Nags Head Board of Commissioners on May 6 approved several financing and budget actions to move forward on an approximately $38 million beach nourishment project covering roughly 10 miles of shoreline.

Finance staff reported that the Local Government Commission had approved the financing, enabling the board to consider an interlocal agreement with Dare County, a special obligation bond resolution, a capital project ordinance amendment and a budget amendment to make project funds available. Finance staff summarized the financing split, saying they had "settled in on financing $13,000,000, and then the rest will be, of course, Dare County's 13 plus million, and then our, over $12,000,000 cash contribution," and noted the project will proceed without a tax increase for the coming fiscal year.

The board approved the interlocal agreement, the bond resolution, the capital project ordinance amendment and the budget amendment by voice vote. Staff explained the interlocal agreement formalizes Dare County’s lump‑sum contribution and that the town will draw down its capital reserves to fund a portion of the project.

Public works and coastal staff provided a construction update: equipment is being mobilized, pipelines are arriving, and a cut‑head (hydraulic) dredge is expected to be on station around May 20 to begin pumping operations in the south end of town, with a hopper dredge anticipated on station around May 23 to begin operations in the north. Active operations will run 24/7 during pumping phases; daytime beach work closures will range from 1,500 to 2,000 feet (reduced to 1,000 feet at night), and placement in any 1 area is projected to take two to four days depending on reach size, with overall pumping operations anticipated to wrap up around mid‑July.

The approvals taken at the meeting enable contracting, procurement and mobilization steps to continue on the schedule discussed by staff.