The crew rebuilding the jetties at the Mexico Beach Canal held its pre-construction meeting in early October. The City of Mexico Beach said in its October 2 weekly report that mobilization would start the following week. That following week brought Hurricane Isaias. On October 9 the National Hurricane Center had it as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph maximum sustained winds and expected it to reach the western Florida Panhandle coast that evening. Then sand washed in from the beach and blocked the very channel the jetty project is meant to keep open.
The canal, the boat ramp, the new Al Cathey Pier and the dune walkovers each have their own contractor, funding and schedule. Each one also deals with how sand moves along this stretch of coast. Here is where each project stands as Mexico Beach heads into November.
Isaias Closed the Canal, and the Jetty Project Explains Why
In the city's October 16 weekly report, Mexico Beach Fire Rescue called the storm's outcome "as good as we could have hoped for," given that a Category 3 storm was in the area. The report also said the city expected things to be largely back to normal soon. Utilities crews inspected every lift station after the storm and found them in good condition.
The canal was a different story. The Harbor Master's section of that report lists it among the city facilities hit hardest. Beach sand completely blocked the channel, and only the smallest boats could get through. Harbor staff had already removed thousands of cubic feet of sand and were working every hour of daylight. Public Works planned to keep dredging through the weekend, weather permitting. The city says it will announce the reopening through its own communication channels once the canal is open and safe to navigate.
A storm filling the canal is the extreme version of something that happens here all the time. A FEMA environmental assessment for the jetty project, posted on the city's website, describes it. Sediment along this shoreline moves from west to east, and the inlet often fills through gaps in the jetties. The city has mechanically bypassed about 60,000 cubic yards of sand a year. Sand placed east of the east jetty has also flowed back into the channel, which doubled the city's dredging needs.
What the Jetty Rebuild Changes at the Canal Mouth
The jetty work is a Hurricane Michael recovery project. Under the preferred design in the FEMA assessment, the east jetty is replaced and extended by 152 feet, for a total length of 339 feet. The west jetty is repaired and strengthened. Both get sheet pile to cut down the sand passing through into the canal. The assessment lists three goals: safe navigation, less frequent dredging and lower public dredging costs.
That assessment dates from January 2024. It listed $1,890,677 in intended funding, a planning figure rather than a final contract price. The city's projects page lists the jetty rebuild as FEMA-funded and in process. The city's July 2 report said the contractor, GCUC, wanted to start October 5. By October 16, the storm had slowed progress, and the priority was dredging the canal back open.
For boat owners on the canal, this project matters more than any other on the list. A longer east jetty with sheet pile in both structures goes after the reason the channel keeps shoaling. Dredging, the city's response this month, only removes the sand that has already come in.
The Boat Ramp Is Waiting on the Same Kind of Steel
The boat ramp project relies on sheet pile too, and right now it is waiting for that material to arrive. The city's October 9 report said the metal sheet piles were expected in late October or early November. By October 16, the city also had permission to use the one neighboring parcel it did not already own or lease.
The bid documents spell out what boaters will get. The seawalls and promenade are repaired, and a new grooved-concrete ramp goes in, 19 feet wide and 133.5 feet long, with a floating dock, gangway, pilings and ADA handrails. The city named HG Harders and Son as the contractor. Its July 2 report set a July 27 notice-to-proceed target, with 270 days to substantial completion and 300 days to final completion. In its September 4 report, the city forecast completion in May 2027. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the city are paying for the ramp expansion and seawall repairs.
If the ramp work goes as forecast, it will finish in spring. By then the jetty work should have a clearer record of whether the channel stays open between dredgings.
The New Pier Moves Past the Shallows
The Al Cathey Municipal Pier deals with sand in a different way. It moves out to where the shallow water ends. The old wooden pier was first built in 1964, according to the pier project manual, and Hurricane Michael destroyed it in 2018. WJHG reported on September 2 that the replacement keeps the original 840-foot length but sits 230 feet farther into the Gulf. Anglers will be fishing in about 20 feet of water instead of 6. The permit documents give a slightly different shift, about 235 feet seaward.
The project manual describes a concrete pier 19 feet wide, with a 50-foot deck midway out and a 60-foot T-shaped deck at the end. The deck sits at a +26-foot elevation. Plans include a bait shop, a restroom, fish-cleaning stations, educational signs and turtle-friendly lighting.
The city's September 4 report records a FEMA obligation of $9,051,440 for the pier. WJHG had reported a $10 million FEMA package a few days earlier. The station also spoke with residents who described the rebuild as a sign of the community's resilience.
On October 2 the city said the required pre-construction meeting, held 45 days before construction, had taken place, and that construction would start in mid-November. The October 16 report did not repeat that date. It said staff were working on pre-construction documents and change order #1 for the October 27 city council meeting. Treat mid-November as a forecast for now. According to WJHG, construction starts at the end of 37th Street and takes about a year, with traffic cut to one lane so materials can be stored.
Where Each Project Stood on October 16
| Project | Status in city reports | Next milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Canal | Blocked by sand from Isaias; crews dredging | City announcement when open and safe |
| Jetties | Progress slowed by the storm | City dredging continues to reopen the canal |
| Boat ramp | HG Harders and Son under contract | Sheet piles due late October or early November; forecast completion May 2027 |
| Al Cathey Pier | Pre-construction documents underway | Change order #1 at October 27 council meeting; start forecast for mid-November |
| Dune Walkover #3 | FDEP permit review underway | Permit decision |
On the Beach Itself: Walkovers, Sand Surveys and Parking
The same sand question reaches the dunes. WJHG reported on October 14 that Bay County is surveying beach sand loss after Isaias. The plan includes a Mexico Beach survey capped at $35,000 and a damage report capped at $40,000.
The two newest dune walkovers each have a short list of remaining work. At Sunset Park, the as-built survey is complete. Engineers are looking at rust at the welds, and a final row of planking will go on the sides. At 7th Street, the railings are the main item left. Walkover #3 is still waiting on its FDEP permit.
Parking is changing too, which matters once the pier work narrows traffic. Public Works has started on a public parking lot behind Summerhouse Condos, including clearing its access road. Crews also used the city's new Spider Excavator to clear the road to the leased parking lot at 2600 Highway 98. Highway 98 resurfacing through town is complete, according to the city's projects page. The Highway 98 multi-use path is still at the early public-input stage.
Dates on the Calendar Through Early December
- Saturday, October 24, 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Halloween Mutt Strut at the Under the Palms Park pavilion on 7th Street is a free dog parade and costume contest. Donations go to the St. Joseph Bay Humane Society. Event details.
- Tuesday, October 27. The city council takes up pier change order #1.
- Friday, November 6. Registration closes for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K, which starts at 8 a.m. on November 26 at Under the Palms Park. There is no race-day registration. Event details.
- Sunday, November 29. On License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day, Florida recreational anglers can fish for saltwater species without a state fishing license. Event details.
- Sunday, December 6, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Christmas Tree Lighting at Parker Park has live music, the golf-cart parade and Santa. The Mexico Beach Fire Department will collect new, unwrapped toys. Event details.
Thinking about a canal-front home, a lot near the new pier, or how Mexico Beach's waterfront rebuild could shape your own plans? Empire Real Estate of Florida follows these projects closely, and our backgrounds in construction and land development help when you're weighing coastal property. Contact Us.
