Norfolk Demolishes $430,000 Ocean View Beach Ramp After Erosion

Norfolk city officials are demolishing a recently constructed beach ramp at Ocean View due to severe storm damage and significant erosion. The ramp, which cost approximately $430,000 and was designed to facilitate emergency vehicle access, is being dismantled less than a year after its completion. According to city engineers, the ramp’s structural integrity has been compromised following extreme erosion caused by recent hurricanes and nor’easters.

Tammy Halstead, an assistant city engineer with the Norfolk Department of Public Works, stated, “After looking at the condition of it, we do not have the area of beach for the emergency vehicles to get past the structure, and so the decision was made to go ahead and remove it.” On Wednesday, crews from Sandbridge Marine began the removal process at Ocean View Beach Park, where the ramp had become partially submerged at high tide.

Residents have expressed disappointment over the ramp’s fate. Jason Johnson, an Ocean View resident, observed the demolition while sitting on a bench with his dog. He noted that the ramp, which was completed in May 2023, is now nearly submerged. Norfolk spokesperson Kelly Straub mentioned there are currently no plans to replace the ramp, raising concerns among community members about ongoing beach erosion.

The ramp was part of a $2.5 million renovation project that included the demolition of the former Greenies dive bar and the creation of green spaces, shower stations, benches, and food truck areas. Tommy Smigiel, a council member for Ward 5, highlighted in a Facebook post that the beach surrounding the ramp has receded by nearly 35 feet since the planning stages began in 2022. He pointed out that the ramp was scheduled for removal even before the recent coastal storm exacerbated the erosion situation.

Photos released by Norfolk officials during the ramp’s construction show a clear waterline several feet away from the structure. Halstead explained that recent storms have accelerated beach erosion, emphasizing that “Mother Nature can turn on us at any time.” The city has a long-term agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers for sand replenishment in the area; however, due to a federal budget impasse, the necessary funding has not been passed. Smigiel expressed hopes that this replenishment project could receive federal funding in 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027.

Erosion has been a persistent concern for residents of Ocean View and surrounding areas, particularly in East Beach. A city survey conducted in spring 2023 found that the shoreline retreated at an average pace of approximately four feet per year from May 2022 to April 2023. Smigiel noted that an emergency sand replenishment initiative, if feasible, could cost around $4 million.

As the removal process continues, the community remains vigilant about the ongoing challenges posed by coastal erosion and its implications for local infrastructure and public safety.