SOLANA BEACH — The Solana Beach City Council has approved a bid for the planned Fletcher Cove improvement project that will replace the beach access ramp and the metal dissipator grate at the base of the ramp and install a new shower area at the beach.
The council awarded a $432,525 construction contract for the project to A.B. Hashmi, Inc. as part of the consent calendar during their July 2 meeting. Officials also approved a $25,301 contract with Verdantas Inc. for geotechnical inspection and laboratory testing needed to support the project.
During the project, crews will replace the concrete access ramp to the beach, as well as the asphalt concrete walkway south of the ramp, the concrete curb, and the metal handrailing.
According to the city, the dissipator grate was installed in 1998 and is now in need of replacement due to corrosion caused by the saltwater and coastal environment.
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed in January 2026. Construction cannot begin sooner because of a California Coastal Commission project waiver that prohibits work on the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The 2023 Coastal Commission waiver states that the project will be completed in phases in order to maintain beach access throughout construction.
The Fletcher Cove improvement project has been part of the city’s Work Plan for the past two years. While Fletcher Cove currently has a shower area located above the beach near the bathrooms, the new shower tower at the base of the ramp will offer a closer option for beachgoers.
The city received a total of 10 bids for the construction contract in May, with A.B. Hashmi, Inc. offering the lowest bid. Wright Construction Engineering Corp. submitted a bid protest alleging that the bids from A.B. Hashmi and another contractor had deficiencies; however, city staff determined the application to be complete.
