Weather slows beach restoration over weekend

Rough weather and dredge refueling slowed completion of the western Walton County portion of the Walton County/Destin beach restoration project this past weekend -- but the end of the project is in sight.

The Walton County Tourist Development Council expects that the project will conclude in Walton County during the week of Jan. 14, though no additional information has been released regarding possible beach restoration beginning in Destin in the immediate future.

When construction continued on Monday, the project had constructed some 22,700 feet of beach, which is 90 percent of the Walton County stretch of the project and 60 percent of the total project.

Barring inclement weather or mechanical difficulties, the following areas are expected to be under construction over the next three weeks.

--This week: Construction is expected to be completed for the western segment of the first landing in the Avalon Beach area and will restart at a second landing approximately 200 feet east of the Walton County/Okaloosa County line and will be headed eastward through Quiet Surf, Emerald Shores and Gulf View.

--Week of Jan. 7: Construction is expected to continue moving eastward through Gulf View, Gulf Winds East and into the Beach Retreat area.

--Week of Jan. 14: Construction is expected to move eastward through Beach Retreat and Maravilla, leading to completion of the Walton County portion of the project.