Full Notification

From the Desk of Jones Hooks, Executive Director

Several updates which should be of interest:
 
Georgia Power expansion on the Jekyll Causeway: 
The foundation installation is going faster than estimated by the contractor.  Barring unforeseen circumstances, the contractor will be finished with the foundation installations and setting the last structure next Tuesday.  After next week, the installation contractor should be completely finished.  The support group has been concentrating on clearing the structure locations and staying ahead of the foundations.  This group will go back and start clearing the areas between structures once the foundations are completed.  As of today, line construction is shown running through March 5.    
 
Highway 17 – Jekyll Causeway Intersection Improvements:
The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun work to improve the intersection at Highway 17 and the Jekyll Island Causeway.  The DOT will construct a southbound acceleration lane as the first component of this project.  While additional northbound deceleration lane work was included in the original design, DOT was unsuccessful in negotiating a private contract for this project, and the northbound improvements will not be constructed at this time.The project should be completed within the next four weeks. We will continue to work with DOT towards additional improvements to this intersection.    
 
Roadway Striping:
Now that all the SPLOST residential paving is complete, we are working with GADOT to secure matching funding for remarking and striping all Jekyll main thoroughfares. 


Revetment Update:   
Planting will begin next week.  Sand displaced by Hurricane Dorian will be resculpted.  The JIA’s vision for crossovers at each T Street remains in place even though FEMA funding has been delayed.  It is important for everyone to realize that JIA and the State of Georgia have spent more than $10.0 million already to protect the island from storm erosion, not to manufacture a terrace beach behind the rock revetment where one did not exist previously.  The sand that has been placed was ALWAYS designed to be planted as part of the overall revetment design, and this area is important to allow the rock revetment to properly function and to protect residential property.   Sand fencing will be installed as a barrier to prevent trampling of the new plantings within the sand-fill area.  We have reexamined the placement of the fencing and will be creating spaces for JIA maintenance and emergency access which no doubt will be utilized by residents.  Tyler Lane is an example.  However, those trails which lead directly to homes where no maintenance and emergency access is required will be fenced.  New crossovers across the rock revetment are intended to replace a number of unofficial, unsafe, and non-JIA/DNR approved paths that have been created by residents in the past.   A crossover at Albright will be the top priority when we are able to move forward with this phase of the revetment project.  At this time, access to the beach seaward of the rocks is available on Thorne, Dexter, King and Brice.   

Shrimp & Grits:
The 2019 Shrimp & Grits Festival was a huge success.  There were an estimated 44,000 folks who enjoyed Jekyll Island last weekend. We are extremely grateful to all the volunteers who assisted.  Mark your calendars now for the next Shrimp & Grits: November 6-8, 2020!