Historic City News learned that for the first time ever, Salt Run is being dredged — a $400,000 project financed by grants from the St. Augustine Port, Waterway & Beach District, and the Florida Inland Navigation District.
Phase I of dredging Salt Run between the Conch House Marina and the St. Augustine Inlet was recently completed.
Phase II of this project will continue in early September when the work moves south between the Conch House Marina and the Lighthouse Park boat ramp.
The dredging will be done only between 7:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday and will last approximately four months. No work will occur on weekends or holidays.
The southern portion of the boat ramp will be used for the offloading of dredge materials during the work week, but at no time will the use of the ramp be closed so that boaters will be able to launch and take out boats as usual.
The number of trucks accessing the ramp to remove the dredge material is minimal and should not exceed eight per day. Trucks are restricted to Red Cox Road for access to the boat ramp. At no time will these trucks enter a residential neighborhood.
Allowing the contractor to use a portion of the boat ramp is saving taxpayers approximately $60,000. The contractor is also responsible for cleaning Red Cox road on a daily basis or when needed.