Hurricane Helene’s storm surge last September severely damaged critical infrastructure in Pass-a-Grille, including a beach wall, roadway, and seawall—necessitating costly emergency repairs, according to St. Pete Beach Public Services Director Camden Mills.

“This is a top priority project for us, and we are actively investigating solutions,” Mills said. “These infrastructure repairs are crucial for public safety.”

The estimated cost to repair the Pass-a-Grille Way seawall from 1st Ave. to 12th Ave. is $5 million. The worst damage is near 11th Ave., where soil erosion beneath the sidewalk has led to its collapse, potentially endangering the road.

“The primary concern is that upland soil beneath the sidewalk has seeped through leaks in the seawall, washing into the Bay,” Mills explained. “With the soil gone, the sidewalk has started to collapse.”

Local resident Marty Nora, 71, who frequently walks along Pass-a-Grille Way, has noticed the worsening condition of the seawall.

“It’s becoming more obvious,” he told Bay News 9. “We’re concerned that if it deteriorates further, it could affect the road and nearby homes.”

On Tuesday, a geoengineering contractor conducted a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) inspection of the seawall to detect additional vulnerabilities.

“This inspection will help assess the ground’s integrity behind the seawall and guide our repair strategy,” Mills said. “The City is currently drafting a design-build request for proposals.”

Another major infrastructure repair involves the Gulf Way roadway and beach wall, with an estimated cost of $2.2 million. The city has already spent nearly $40,000 on emergency repairs, primarily patching asphalt at severely damaged intersections.

“That’s the patchwork visible in key intersections,” Mills noted. “We had a resurfacing project planned for Gulf Way as part of our capital improvement program, and the design is already completed.”

Commissioner Joe Moholland, representing Pass-a-Grille, urged Mills to prioritize beach wall repairs before hurricane season, as the structure protects the sand dunes. Mills stated that, in a best-case scenario, the project could be completed by June or July.

“We should explore temporary protective measures in case construction isn’t finished before storm season,” Mills added.

While the beach wall repairs may be completed sooner, the seawall project will take longer. The city continues to draft its design-build proposal, and FEMA is scheduled to inspect both projects on March 11 to determine potential funding assistance.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

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