Port Royal Beach Access Temporarily Closed for Renourishment Project

If you’re planning a trip to Port Royal Beach in Naples this week, be prepared for detours and construction activity, according to a recent article by Madison Zaleski of Gulf Coast News.

Starting Monday, the beach access at 33rd Avenue South will be closed as part of Collier County’s ongoing beach renourishment efforts. Crews will begin the next phase of the South Naples emergency berm project, a major initiative aimed at restoring beaches damaged by Hurricane Ian.

Naples resident Patrick McGowan, a regular visitor to the beach, said he was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of construction vehicles. “We had no idea they were doing work here,” he said. “We drove by and saw the beach access blocked off and trucks everywhere. It was surprising.”

Traffic cones and heavy machinery have already been staged along 33rd Avenue South in preparation for the work. The project includes hauling in 45,000 tons of sand to build up a protective berm stretching from 21st Avenue South to Gordon Pass.

Visitor Nick Baldwin was also surprised by the scale of the operation. “When I saw the beach closed and all the heavy equipment, I thought they were putting up a skyscraper,” he joked.

This phase of the project is expected to take about two weeks and wrap up by the end of the month. Once fully completed, over 400,000 tons of sand will have been placed across beaches from Barefoot Beach to Cape Marco, helping to restore the shoreline after storm damage.

Longtime residents say beach restoration is nothing new. “We’ve been replenishing the beach for decades,” said McGowan. “It’s needed and part of living here.”

Baldwin agrees. “The beach is a gem. It needs to be protected and maintained so everyone can enjoy it.”

In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to use alternative access points and remain cautious of workers and construction vehicles. “Try stopping earlier on the road instead of heading all the way down,” Baldwin advised. “Let’s give space to the crews and wait it out.”

This article originally appeared on Gulf Coast

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