Fernandina’s Next Seawall Segment Is Moving. Here’s the $1.54 Million Plan.
Commissioners approved the southern waterfront segment in September. City staff targets November 16 for mobilization, and residents can ask about access and drainage at a November 5 meeting.
The next wall segment will change a piece of Fernandina’s working waterfront. Residents have a chance Thursday to ask how construction will affect park access, parking, drainage and the road before the city’s targeted start date.
Fernandina Beach is preparing to build the next southern segment of its waterfront seawall. The city has scheduled a public information session for 10 a.m. Thursday, November 5, in City Hall Commission Chambers, 204 Ash Street. The segment begins just south of Amelia River Waterfront Park. The meeting is announced; construction has not been reported as completed or underway.
At its September 15 meeting, the City Commission approved Resolution 2026-126 by a 5–0 vote. It awarded the construction bid to Earth Tech Enterprises for $1,164,144. The city manager described a $1,544,578.40 total segment-one project amount that also covers construction administration, inspection and contingency. The larger figure is a project amount, not the contractor’s bid alone.
What is planned along the waterfront
City staff described a wall extending south from the existing end of the park along the coastal edge of Broad Street. The plan includes a piling wall with a concrete cap, road reshaping to direct runoff away from the wall, replacement of aging culverts and relocation of a water main. These are the plans presented at the September 15 commission meeting; the final construction layout and temporary access controls are worth checking at Thursday’s session.
In an October 20 project update, city staff said mobilization for segment one was expected on November 16. That is a stated target, not confirmation that work has started. At the September meeting, staff said the far end of the parking lot was planned as a staging area and that the work would affect the park somewhat. The city had not, in the records reviewed for this article, published a precise public closure map or final day-by-day access schedule.
The money behind one segment
The city announced in July that Florida’s overall commitment to its seawall project had reached $9 million: $1 million for design and permitting and $8 million for construction. That is funding for the wider seawall program; it should not be mistaken for the cost of this $1.54 million segment. The November 5 meeting notice identifies a Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant for segment one.
Questions to take to City Hall
- Which parking spaces, sidewalks and park areas will close, and for how long?
- How will drainage and road grades change for nearby property and access?
- What construction milestones, flood-protection standard and reporting schedule will the city publish?
- Will any proposed extension toward the boat launch require a separate contract or vote?
The city has approved the segment-one contract and announced the public meeting. The November 16 mobilization date remains a staff projection. We will update this report when the city posts final access plans or construction begins.
Primary sources
- City of Fernandina Beach, Seawall Segment 1 information session calendar, November 5, 2026; checked November 3.
- City Commission, September 15, 2026 meeting, Resolution 2026-126, presentation, bid amount and 5–0 vote; checked November 3.
- City Commission, October 20, 2026 project update, November 16 mobilization target; checked November 3.
- City of Fernandina Beach, July 8, 2026 state funding announcement; checked November 3.
All construction dates beyond the announced public meeting are subject to change. Send a correction.