Thursday, February 6, 2014

Plan to save A1A from Flagler’s shifting sands | News-JournalOnline.com

This is in Flagler County, which is just north of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast. Part of A1A is falling into the ocean due to shifting sands and sea level rise. It is interesting to note that our section of A1A was further east, for the most part, than it is today. When you drive along the east side of the Casino building, you are actually driving along the old right-of-way. After a series of storms in the late 1940s, the decision was made to move the road further west on Palm Beach island. That was also when fill was placed in the area west of the Casino building and west of the newly laid out A1A north of the Lake Worth bridge. This article, click title for link, explains some of the options when dealing with this situation. None of them are cheap and none are really that permanent. 

How is our seawall again? Is it adequately protecting our seawall?
Undulating sand dunes topped with sea oats and palmetto, weathered decks and wooden stairways to the beach, the occasional beach cruiser leaned against a speed-limit sign ... a lovely view to the east.
When the road was laid out in 1927, it was too close to the ocean to allow much development between the road and coast. The result is a nice approximation of pre-motel, pre-condo Florida.
Too bad parts of the highway are about to fall into the ocean.