Palm Beach officials are defending plans to close all of Midtown Beach for about 18 months while the town replaces its seawall. Construction is expected to begin in January 2027 and run through summer 2028.
At a public outreach meeting, residents pressed project leaders on why the entire stretch must close instead of being done in sections. The Town Council voted two weeks ago to replace the wall in one phase. The town says a sectioned approach would have taken twice as long and cost twice as much.
Town officials said the existing wall has reached the end of its useful life, according to engineering reports. Jake Hurley, senior project engineer and project manager, said the town has been working on funding and permits since 2020 and now has sand available from a recent renourishment to protect the wall during work.
Normal beach access will be closed because of safety concerns with heavy equipment. Hurley said a berm will separate the work zone from the ocean, protecting sea turtles during nesting season. Pedestrians may be able to walk the shoreline on the ocean side at certain times.
The new wall is expected to be about six inches higher on average and extend farther east. Hurley said it will be designed to match the look of the current wall, including scalloped molds from the 1980s. The project team is also recommending a new beach access point on the north end.
Phase one of the design is expected to be finished this fall. The town hopes to present the guaranteed maximum price to the Town Council in December. More community meetings are planned.
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Read more on the project as details are finalized.
