Bradenton Beach dredge project gears up

The Bradenton Beach dredging and seagrass mitigation project will begin this month with the goal to create a more navigable channel.

The mitigation contractor was set to begin staging its equipment April 2, according to city attorney Ricinda Perry.

Mitigation, essential to dredging projects because it reduces losses incurred from stirring up the bay bottom by putting in new plants, will take place before dredging.

Dredging will begin in mid-April or early May.

The project is on track to be completed by early September, with a state deadline for completion of the project by Dec. 31.

Dredging will take place from the South Coquina Boat Ramp, 1465 Gulf Drive S., northward to the Historic Bridge Street Pier, 200 Bridge St.