CAROLINA BEACH — Erosion caused by Hurricane Matthew along Snow’s Cut in Carolina Beach has prompted the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to launch a project to help repair the damages done along the Intracoastal Waterway.
“Bank repairs involve three areas of Snow’s Cut; two locations are on the north and south side and east of the Carolina Beach bridge, and one is near the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission boat launch facility. The Corps anticipates that the contractor will need to close the Carolina Beach recreational trail on the south bank in November 2017 until further notice. This repair project is expected to be finished sometime toward the end of Spring 2018,” Spokesperson for the USACE Wilmington District Public Affairs Hank Heusinkveld said.
The USACE says a contract to help mitigate the damage has been awarded, and construction is set to begin in early November. The construction will force the closure of portions of the Snow’s Cut Recreational Walking Trail.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District has awarded a contract in the amount of $1.8 million to repair erosion damage to the banks of Snow’s Cut caused by impacts from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Snow’s Cut, a federally authorized part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, provides commercial navigational traffic a direct route for mariners between Carolina Beach in the east to the Cape Fear River in the west,” Heusinkveld said.
Port City Daily acquired emails sent from the USACE to the Town of Carolina Beach regarding the plans for erosion control along the banks.
“Our preliminary discussions with the contractor indicate that the Carolina Beach recreational trail on the south bank of Snows Cut will need to be likely closed after Thanksgiving for 60 days or more for construction activities from the beginning of the trail at the NC Water Resources Commission boat launch facility, thru the Carolina Beach bridge to Bridge Barrier Road, a somewhat further closure distance than we thought before the contract was awarded. We need to make sure that the contractor’s trucks have plenty of room under the bridge to turn left and navigate to a position to place rock on the southern bank next to the bridge,” said Shallow Draft Navigation Program Project Manager for the USACE, Jim Medlock in an email to the town.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
