Vulnerable stretches of A1A in Florida are undergoing a major reconstruction project as transportation crews install buried seawalls to help protect the roadway.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A major project aimed at increasing protections of vulnerable stretches of Florida’s scenic State Road A1A is nearing completion, just as hurricane season gets underway.
State Road A1A spans more than 300 miles from Fernandina Beach to Key West and offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, but its proximity to the shoreline makes the roadway highly vulnerable to hurricanes, nor’easters and other erosion events.
In recent years, significant cyclones such as Matthew, Dorian and Nicole have led to large sections of the highway washing away, forcing transportation officials to conduct emergency repairs, which ultimately are weakened or washed away by the next disaster.
So, with some ingenuity and funding of more than $100 million, the Florida Department of Transportation is finalizing the installation of what is known as a buried seawall.
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Flagler County Sheriff’s Commander James Troiano, middle, gives a media tour of a section of A1A that was washed out in Flagler Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, after Hurricane Matthew devastated the area.
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) -
FLAGLER BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 08: A1A is seen after ocean waters stirred up by Hurricane Matthew washed away part of the ocean front road on October 8, 2016 in Flagler Beach, Florida. Across the Southeast, Over 1.4 million people have lost power due to Hurricane Matthew which has been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane on Saturday morning.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) -
FLAGLER BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 08: A vehicle passes along A1A after ocean waters stirred up by Hurricane Matthew washed away parts of the ocean front road on October 8, 2016 in Flagler Beach, Florida. Across the Southeast, over 1.4 million people have lost power due to Hurricane Matthew which was downgraded to a category 1 hurricane on Saturday morning.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Unlike traditional seawalls, which are clearly visible and largely exposed, this protection method is concealed beneath sand dunes and planted vegetation.
According to officials, the seawall will not only protect the roadway but also help to preserve the natural appearance of the scenic Florida coastline.
The buried seawalls are being constructed in limited areas of Flagler and Volusia counties, but the two areas have seen repeated storm damage during recent years.
The agency said it constructed the new system based on a buried seawall installed at a nearby beach in 2019, which has proven to be effective during Category 3 hurricane conditions.
A Category 3 cyclone has sustained winds of 111-129 mph and usually produces a storm surge of at least 9 to 12 feet, which can be enhanced depending on the Moon’s cycle.
A1A seawall construction project in Flagler County, Florida.
(FDOT / FOX Weather)
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Construction teams are also coordinating with environmental groups to avoid impacting sea turtle nesting season, which can delay certain stages of the project.
Once complete, the buried seawalls will provide long-term protection for not only A1A but also nearby homes and businesses that, in some areas, are just feet away from the ocean’s edge.
