The Hernando Beach dredge project will be able to take one more step forward now that Hernando County has the updated plans and will make the April 30, 2010 permitting deadline, according to David Russell, Hernando County Commissioner.

The project has been stalled for nearly three months, due to a contract responsibility dispute between the contractor, Orion Dredging Services, Inc and the consultant-engineer, The Halcrow Group.  Russell claims that the project will resume in 60 days as long as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) finds the revised plans acceptable.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has provided $5.5 million in grant money towards the project and has offered a preliminary approval for a one year extension deadline for matching the funds to help pay for the project.