Daytona Beach City Commission Approves Beach Access Investment

The Daytona Beach City Commission approved the hiring of a firm to construct fourteen new beach access stairways and four ramps, making eighteen new access points overall. Construct Co. Inc, a construction company out of Orlando, got the job. The price tag on the investment is high, but the city won’t be paying the majority of it out-of-pocket. The total cost will amount to $902,202, with only $112,775 being funded by city taxpayer money. The remaining amount will be paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Much of the infrastructure providing the public access to the beach was damaged or destroyed in hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022. Daytona Beach in particular saw millions in property damage, forcing some residents out of their coastal homes and putting unlucky businesses into impossible situations. FEMA and the state government have both poured money into Volusia County to help its occupants recover from the impacts. Further complicating matters was the impact of Hurricane Milton in 2024, putting many of the initial repairs from other recent hurricanes to the test. High wind speed and storm surge contributed to erosion along much of the coastline, further threatening what structures remain in place.