Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company has been awarded an $8.1 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District to begin dredging and beach replenishment along the north shore of the Indian River Inlet in Sussex County, Delaware.

Under the new contract, crews will dredge about 550,000 cubic yards of sand from the offshore inlet system and place it on a stretch of beach north of the inlet. The goal is to reduce coastal storm damage risks in the area, particularly to Route 1 and the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

Beachgoers can expect temporary closures during construction, which is scheduled to begin this fall and last about four to six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has resumed operations at the Indian R

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