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Pinellas County has completed a $126 million beach renourishment project in four months, significantly ahead of schedule. Crews dredged over two million cubic yards of sand from Egmont Shoal and other locations, placing it on beaches including Sand Key and Upham Beach.

The project raised beach elevations to enhance storm protection. Funding primarily came from the Tourist Development Tax due to non-compliance with federal easement requirements for cost-sharing. Local officials emphasized the project's importance for tourism, especially after recent hurricanes, and expressed optimism about future collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers.