Clearwater Beach Marina's £43.5M Rebuild Underway After Hurricane Damage

Construction at Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina is now in full swing as part of a £43.5 million rebuild. The project replaces old docks and adds new facilities, including 165 new boat slips. Pinellas County is covering £7.5 million of the cost under a capital improvement agreement. The marina was already set for upgrades before Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck last year. The storms worsened damage to docks and buildings, leaving some areas in disrepair. Captain Kevin Massiwer of Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise described the scene afterwards, with docks twisted and some booths collapsed or underwater.

Work on the western portion of the marina is expected to finish in December. After this, tenants on the east side will temporarily move to allow crews to start the next phase. The full project will continue through next year.

Some local businesses have reported reduced visibility and fewer customers. They say people have asked if they were still open due to the ongoing construction. The rebuild will bring new ticket kiosks, a marina walk, and an updated fuel office. Businesses hope the improvements will restore foot traffic once completed. The project remains on track despite the challenges posed by last year’s storms.