US$175m California seawall project gains approval

Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California

The 3,200-foot- (975m)-long structure will protect the Lake Merced Tunnel, a significant element of the city’s storm and wastewater drainage infrastructure.

The decision to build the seawall, comes amid fears of wastewater flooding the beach, due to rising sea levels and cliff erosion.

Once completed, the seawall will be one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in California, with the aim of combating threats from climate change.

The buried seawall project was proposed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and the scope of work will include the removal of rubble and temporary rock barriers from the beach, as well as the widening of the shoreline by approximately 24m.

Maintaining the seawall will involve periodic sand replenishment, at an estimated cost of $1 million per application.

The city also plans to permanently close a section of the Great Highway that runs close to the beach, integrating public trails and pedestrian access.