After a lucky hurricane season that spared the barrier island, Indian River County is catching up on the perpetual task of beach renourishment.

Tons of sand are being spread along the shoreline and dunes of Sector 5, which extends from Mariner Village to the Riomar Country Club golf course. The goal is to repair damage caused by 2022 hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

Half a mile of the project’s 3.1-mile stretch is complete, according to Quintin Bergman, Indian River County’s coastal resource manager.

Beach access points in Jaycee Park, which were closed on Dec. 8, reopened this week, though dump trucks continue to use a makeshift roadway along the park’s northern edge to dump loads of sand from inland mines on the beach. From there, sand is transferred by a skip loader to smaller dump trucks that carry it to the dunes that are being rebuilt.

A mile north of Jaycee Park, Tracking Station Park, where contractors enter and exit the beach with smaller trucks and other equipment, remains closed. The county shut down the entire park, including the parking lot, restrooms and beach access points on Dec. 10, and it will remain closed until Feb. 27, 2026.

All work on the beach, including hauling and sand placement, will pause for the holidays between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2, when an influx of beachgoers is expected.

The Sector 5 project is expected to cost $6.5 million, paid for by a combination of local tourist tax money and state and federal grants. Fort Pierce based Guettler Brothers Construction is the contractor on the project. It will place 153,000 cubic yards of sand in the sector, restoring recreational beachfront and nesting habitat for sea turtles. Approximately 117,500 native plants, including sea oats and bitter panic grass, will be planted to stabilize the dunes.

The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 29, 2026, weather-permitting. If necessary, work may continue after Mar. 1, which is the beginning of sea turtle nesting season. Workers will be required to protect nesting sea turtles, Bergman said.