A bustling segment of downtown St. Petersburg’s sidewalk and seawall narrowly escaped total submersion in the bay during the recent onslaught of Hurricane Milton. This once-busy area has now posed a serious public safety concern for close to a month, leaving both residents and visitors on edge.
The city council took decisive action on Thursday afternoon, approving a substantial construction proposal valued at $3.48 million to overhaul the waterfront infrastructure. Nevertheless, the Vinoy Yacht Basin’s sidewalk and seawall are set to serve as striking reminders of the forces of nature – alongside the staggering costs associated with necessary citywide improvements – for a projected duration of at least 15 weeks.
Brejesh Prayman, the city’s director of engineering and capital improvements, indicated that city officials would be closely monitoring surrounding sections along 5th Avenue NE that faced similar destabilizing conditions during the storm. Councilmember Gina Driscoll voiced her concerns, questioning the reasoning behind the delay in addressing the neighboring seawalls that also exhibited significant problems.
“The funding is there,” emphasized Driscoll, who represents the impacted area. “Years ago, this funding was secured, yet it remains untapped.”
In conjunction with this, the council also greenlit proposals worth $2.5 million and $655,000 aimed at reconstructing storm-ravaged walls at Bear Creek and the Eden Isle Culvert, respectively. These initiatives specifically target improvements within residential neighborhoods.
Driscoll highlighted the importance of the downtown sidewalk, which experiences a continuous flow of pedestrians, cyclists, and parents with strollers, all drawn from both the local community and visiting tourists. Officials frequently refer to the waterfront as St. Petersburg’s “front porch,” and she remarked on the multitude of areas in dire need of repairs.
Driscoll articulated the safety concerns arising from storm damage, noting that pedestrians have been compelled to venture into the street to circumvent hazardous pathways. In response, the city put up a temporary traffic control sign to guide pedestrians toward an alternate route to ensure their safety.
“People are not using the detour we provided,” Prayman noted, adding that once the contract is finalized, the contractor will prioritize the installation of fencing to direct pedestrian traffic safely.
Rapidly escalating costs
St. Petersburg officials have been acutely aware that recurrent flooding and rising sea levels have rendered a significant stretch of aging seawalls largely inadequate. Nestled on a peninsula, the city boasts an extensive 244 miles of shoreline, heightening the need for robust infrastructure investments.
Tom Greene, assistant city administrator, shared that the city has earmarked $31 million for improvements to infrastructure around the critical 5th Avenue area, sourced from the Intown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) funds.
The Citywide Seawall Inspection, Renovation, and Replacement initiative was launched in fiscal year 2021, and upon its expected completion in late 2025, it could comprise a staggering inventory of over $1 billion in projects aimed at revitalizing aging coastal defenses.
Prayman disclosed that the Canada-based PCL Construction will undertake the replacement of 310 linear feet of seawall downtown for the considerable sum of $3.48 million. This astronomical investment translates to a cost of $11,225 per square foot.
Documentation indicates that the company will also be responsible for removing debris and sediment from Bear Creek while stabilizing 200 linear feet of canal walls at a cost of $12,500 per foot.
PCL intends to remove and replace between 15 and 20 linear feet of seawall and reinforced concrete piping, restoring the adjacent sidewalk in the vicinity of the Eden Isle Culvert. With a price tag of $655,600 for just 20 feet of work, this translates to a striking $32,780 per foot.
Prayman pointed out that opting for sheet concrete materials proves “substantially more expensive” than traditional steel, which degrades over time. The repair materials selected have an anticipated service life of 75 years, highlighting their long-term investment benefits.
Unlike residential seawalls, the city’s structures must bear significant vehicle traffic loads, making their construction costs considerably higher. Prayman noted that the city previously spent around $7,000 per square foot for new seawalls back in 2016, long before construction costs began to soar exponentially due to the pandemic.
“Sea wall replacement is not a cheap process,” Prayman remarked. “We are experiencing a dramatic rise in prices.”
Among these costs, payments for PCL’s project managers stand at $250 per hour, while unskilled laborers will earn $34 hourly throughout the projected 12-to-15-week projects.
Taxpayer expenses also encompass $15.62 for each hour a pickup truck is utilized and $150 monthly for PCL’s cell phone services. Documentation stipulates that the completion of project contracts will take approximately two weeks.
On Thursday, officials committed a total of $6.64 million to the trio of relatively small projects. At the recent lowest cost of $11,225 per square foot, replacing the city’s 20 miles of seawalls would amount to an astonishing $1.185 billion.
Prayman stated that the seawall study will yield crucial condition assessments citywide, allowing administrators to prioritize projects based on urgency. “We will likely present an amendment for the contract we hold concerning the 79th Street (North) seawall project, as we identified additional failures during the storm.”
“Given our limited funding right now, we’re truly prioritizing critical sections that may pose failures or public safety concerns,” Prayman added, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
He concurred with Driscoll’s assertion that additional seawalls along 5th Avenue require immediate attention. “If I had the funding available, I would initiate repairs for the entire section without delay,” Prayman asserted.
Driscoll reaffirmed that “the costs are consistently climbing.” She further emphasized that designated funds for infrastructural improvements are readily available to address these pressing challenges.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide additional funding to assist in replacing storm-damaged seawalls. Greene clarified that these impending projects are indeed eligible for reimbursement, which could alleviate some financial burdens.
**Interview with Brejesh Prayman, Director of Engineering and Capital Improvements for St. Petersburg**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Brejesh. Can you start by giving us an overview of the challenges the city has faced with Hurricane Milton and the state of the infrastructure?
**Brejesh Prayman:** Thank you for having me. Hurricane Milton posed significant challenges for us, particularly in downtown St. Petersburg where our seawall and sidewalk along the Vinoy Yacht Basin were severely impacted. We narrowly escaped total submersion in the bay, which has raised serious public safety concerns. Many residents and visitors are understandably uneasy due to this ongoing situation.
**Interviewer:** The city council recently approved a $3.48 million budget for infrastructure improvements. Can you elaborate on what this project will entail?
**Brejesh Prayman:** Absolutely. This funding will be used to replace 310 linear feet of seawall and to refurbish the adjacent sidewalk. We’re working with PCL Construction, and it’s important to highlight that these materials will have a significantly longer lifespan. We’re opting for sheet concrete, which, while substantially more expensive than traditional steel, provides durability and a service life of about 75 years.
**Interviewer:** Councilmember Gina Driscoll expressed concerns regarding unexplored funding for nearby seawalls. Can you address that?
**Brejesh Prayman:** Yes, Councilmember Driscoll raised a valid point. While funding is indeed available, addressing all the seawall issues simultaneously can be a logistical challenge. We are monitoring conditions closely, particularly along 5th Avenue NE which faced destabilization similar to that of the Vinoy area. The city is committed to improving our waterfront infrastructure as efficiently as possible.
**Interviewer:** Safety appears to be a significant concern, especially for pedestrians. What measures are being taken to ensure their safety during construction?
**Brejesh Prayman:** In the interim, we’ve put up temporary traffic control signs directing pedestrians to alternate routes. However, we’ve noticed that not everyone is complying with these detours. Once we finalize contracts, the contractor will prioritize fencing to safely guide pedestrian traffic around the work areas, ensuring everyone stays safe during this critical period.
**Interviewer:** With rising sea levels and increased flooding, how is St. Petersburg planning for the future?
**Brejesh Prayman:** This is a crucial question. We’ve recognized that our aging infrastructure isn’t adequate to withstand current and future climate challenges. That’s why we initiated the Citywide Seawall Inspection, Renovation, and Replacement initiative, which could amount to over $1 billion in projects aimed at revitalizing our coastal defenses. We’ve allocated $31 million specifically for improvements around the critical 5th Avenue area, funded through the Intown Community Redevelopment Area.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Brejesh, for shedding light on the city’s plans and challenges. Your insights highlight the urgent need for robust infrastructure in St. Petersburg.
**Brejesh Prayman:** Thank you for having me. We’re dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community while investing in lasting solutions to withstand the forces of nature.