North Myrtle Beach Begins Preparations for Upcoming Beach Renourishment Project

🌅 A Shoreline Worth Protecting

For generations, the beaches of North Myrtle Beach have been more than a vacation destination—they’ve been a place where families gather, wildlife thrives, and visitors find peace in the steady rhythm of the waves. Every sunrise, every sandcastle, and every footprint left in the sand tells part of a shared story that stretches across generations.

Now, that shoreline is entering a new chapter of care. The City of North Myrtle Beach, working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District, is preparing for a major Beach Renourishment Project that will strengthen and restore the coastline in the months ahead.

The project is currently in its mobilization and planning phase, with engineers, environmental experts, and local officials finalizing logistics before work begins in late 2025. This isn’t a response to crisis—it’s a forward-looking effort, grounded in science and stewardship, to protect the city’s most treasured natural asset for future generations.

By investing now, North Myrtle Beach ensures that its iconic shoreline remains wide, walkable, and welcoming—for residents, visitors, and the wildlife that call it home.

🏗️ The Grand Strand Beach Renourishment Project

In December 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District awarded a $72 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, one of the most experienced coastal engineering firms in the country. Their mission? To restore the beaches along 26 miles of the Grand Strand coastline, including North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Garden City.

This project will move roughly two million cubic yards of sand—the equivalent of 200,000 dump trucks—from offshore sources back onto the beaches. That’s enough to rebuild dunes, strengthen the coastline, and create a wide, resilient buffer against storms and erosion.

The renourishment is 100% federally funded, meaning no local tax dollars are used. It’s a remarkable partnership between federal engineers and local leadership, ensuring that one of South Carolina’s most beloved destinations continues to thrive.

📅 Project Timeline and Construction Details

Work officially begins with mobilization in October 2025 in North Myrtle Beach. Crews will start here, move south into Myrtle Beach in February 2026, and conclude in Garden City and Surfside Beach by mid-summer 2026.

Each week, teams will work in 1,000-foot sections—restoring, reshaping, and reinforcing the dunes as they move along. No section will be under construction for more than a few days at a time, minimizing disruptions for visitors and residents.

The timeline is carefully designed to avoid peak hurricane season and to stay on schedule, weather permitting. Crews will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using specialized dredging and pumping equipment to move sand from the sea floor onto the beach.

Visitors may notice equipment, pipelines, and temporary fencing in active work zones, along with some noise from back-up alarms or lights during nighttime operations. But rest assured: the City and the Corps are taking every step to ensure public safety and convenience.

🐢 Protecting Nature and Wildlife

One of the most impressive aspects of this project is how it balances engineering precision with environmental care. Before any sand is moved, environmental specialists from the Corps and Horry County conduct daily monitoring of sea turtles, shorebirds, and marine life.

If a sea turtle nest is discovered in a construction area, it’s gently relocated by trained biologists. Hatchlings are monitored until they safely reach the ocean. Work halts immediately if turtles or protected wildlife are present.

Migratory shorebirds also receive daily observation, ensuring nesting sites remain undisturbed. This delicate balance between preservation and progress is central to the project’s mission: restoring the beach while safeguarding the creatures who call it home.

🚧 Public Safety and Beach Access

While the project involves heavy machinery and constant motion, safety remains the top priority.

Only active construction zones—about 1,000 feet at a time—will be temporarily closed to the public. Adjacent sections of the beach will remain open, and visitors can easily access the shore using the next available access point.

Signage, fencing, and city staff will clearly mark closed areas, and updates will be posted regularly online. The City encourages all beachgoers to stay alert, follow posted guidance, and respect safety barriers.

Most importantly, visitors can rest easy knowing that the majority of North Myrtle Beach’s shoreline will remain open throughout the process.

🤝 A Partnership for the Future

This renourishment effort highlights a long-standing partnership between local government, federal agencies, and private contractors. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District manages the project’s funding and execution, while the City of North Myrtle Beach ensures coordination, communication, and public engagement.

Together, they are ensuring the project runs efficiently, protecting not only the beach itself but also homes, businesses, and public infrastructure behind the dunes.

This partnership has proven its worth. During previous storms—like Hurricane Ian (2022) and Hurricane Debby (2024)—the dunes and prior renourishment efforts helped reduce storm surge and protect property. The system worked exactly as designed, proving that investment in shoreline protection pays real dividends in community safety.

🌴 Why Beach Renourishment Matters

Beach renourishment is about much more than aesthetics. It’s a coastal defense system and an economic safeguard rolled into one.

Healthy beaches provide:

• Storm surge protection: Dunes absorb the force of waves and prevent flooding.
• Wildlife habitat: Sea turtles, shorebirds, and coastal plants depend on wide, stable beaches to survive.
• Tourism stability: A strong, scenic shoreline attracts millions of visitors annually, fueling the local economy.
• Community identity: The beach defines North Myrtle Beach—it’s a shared resource, a cultural anchor, and a source of pride.

When the project wraps in mid-summer 2026, the beach will be wider, safer, and ready for another generation of beachgoers to enjoy.

📍 Tracking Progress and Staying Informed

Transparency is key to keeping the community connected to the project.

The City of North Myrtle Beach has launched an interactive Beach Renourishment Tracker showing live progress, work locations, and completion maps:
👉 North Myrtle Beach Tracker

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District also provides updates on their online project tracker and through their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and X at @CharlestonCorps.

Residents and visitors can follow along daily to see which sections of beach are active and when they’ll reopen.

🏖️ Plan Your Visit with Thomas Beach Vacations

The best news? North Myrtle Beach remains open, beautiful, and welcoming.

The renourishment work is just one more example of how this community protects what makes it special. And there’s no better time to experience that care firsthand. Whether you’re visiting this winter to catch a holiday show, walking the quiet shoreline in spring, or planning your summer escape, you’ll see the results of this stewardship in every grain of sand.

At Thomas Beach Vacations, we’re proud to be part of this story—helping families and friends experience the very best of North Myrtle Beach, year after year.

🌴 Explore our properties at NorthMyrtleBeachVacations.com or call (866) 249-2100 to plan your stay.
The beach is being renewed, restored, and made ready for you.