FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A massive new line of defense is now buried beneath the sand along one of Central Florida’s most scenic and vulnerable roads.
The Florida Department of Transportation says a $117 million project designed to protect State Road A1A from future storms is now complete, more than two years after crews began construction.
The project includes 2.5 miles of buried seawall along the coastline in Flagler and Volusia counties.
The north section stretches from South Central Avenue in Flagler Beach to just north of Highbridge Road in Volusia County.
The southern section runs from Marlin Drive to Sunrise Avenue in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
The need for the project became clear after years of hurricanes and nor’easters repeatedly eroded the shoreline around A1A, threatening the roadway.
However, drivers and beachgoers won’t see a massive concrete barrier blocking the view.
Instead, crews buried the seawall beneath the beach and covered it with nearly 238,000 tons of sand, rebuilding the dunes above the structure.
Native plants and palmetto trees were also added to help stabilize the shoreline and strengthen the dune system.
As part of the work, crews replaced 28 beach walkovers along the project area.
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