Beach renourishment in Myrtle Beach to restart. Delays push work into peak summer

The Grand Strand beach renourishment project will continue this week after two months of delays.

However, the delays now will extend construction until August, according to a press release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mechanical and scheduling conflicts prompted the delayed timeline. The project was previously estimated to be completed by mid-summer.

“We recognize renourishment during the summer months can be disruptive,” Corps project manager Sonja Carter said in a press release. “However, it’s imperative we complete the project before peak hurricane season as these projects are designed to protect the community from storm surge.”

The Arcadian Shores project, which is funded by Horry County and the City of Myrtle Beach, began construction May 5 from Singleton Swash to Apache Pier to avoid ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic events May 7-10, the City of Myrtle Beach’s Facebook post said.

After Mother’s Day weekend when the PGA event concludes, work will continue from Bear Branch Swash to the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Since the Arcadian Shores project was not included in the $72 million federal project, the section is not part of the Corps’ live construction tracker.

The Corps’ project will continue work into Reach Two, or the Myrtle Beach section, at the end of May with completion expected in July. Crews will attempt to avoid the city’s large scale beach events.

Reach Three, which includes Garden City and Surfside Beach, is expected to begin in July and be completed in August.

The schedule remains subject to weather conditions and equipment availability, the press release said.

The Corps and Horry County will conduct migratory shorebird and sea turtle monitoring daily, and will relocate nests if necessary.

Carter previously told The Sun News that Fish and Wildlife standards require an environmental plan that needs to be approved and followed by both the Corps and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in regard to sea turtles.

A third party was hired specifically to monitor beaches from dusk to dawn surrounding the 1,000-foot sections in progress to watch for sea turtles coming ashore. If a sea turtle is spotted within 500 feet of the work zone, work stops until the turtle is relocated or finished nesting.

Construction equipment lighting is limited to the active work area and will not span the entire 1,000-foot zone. Carter said they do not expect significant pauses due to nesting season.

This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Beach renourishment in Myrtle Beach to restart. Delays push work into peak summer."