Collier County crews are set to spread more than 208,000 tons of sand across 3.5 miles of Naples Beach, starting from Doctors Pass and extending just south of 21st Avenue South. The $8 million renourishment project, reported by DredgingToday, aims to revitalize the sandy shores before the end of 2026.
Board Awards Contract to Fort Myers Bidder
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners awarded the contract to Earth Tech Enterprises Inc. at a recent meeting. The overall $8 million price tag breaks down into approximately $5 million for the Earth Tech contract, $2.4 million for sand acquisition, and remaining funds designated for engineering design, permitting, inspections, and shorebird monitoring.
Wink News reported that the sand will be hauled by truck from Stewart Mining in Immokalee, though DredgingToday specifies the supplier as Stewart Materials. Funding for the entire initiative is drawn from Collier County’s tourist development tax.
Beach Work Begins in October and Ends by 2026
Equipment mobilization and site setup get underway in late October, with heavy hauling and sand placement immediately following. Crews are scheduled to operate Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The beach will stay open to the public while work moves down the coast, though small sections will be fenced off temporarily around active machinery. Operations will pause briefly for the Thanksgiving holiday, halting between November 26, 2026, and November 29, 2026. Contractors face a firm deadline to wrap up all spreading and cleanup before the end of 2026.
| Project Component | Estimated Cost / Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Project Estimate | $8 Million |
| Earth Tech Contract | $5 Million |
| Sand Sourcing (Stewart Materials/Mining) | $2.4 Million |
| Geographic Reach | 3.5 miles (Doctors Pass to 21st Ave S) |
| Sand Volume | Over 208,000 tons |
Additional engineering, permitting, and mandatory shorebird monitoring account for the remainder of the budget. Work continues toward the late 2026 completion target.
