South Florida advances major coastal stormwater and flood control projects to construction

South Florida advances major coastal stormwater and flood control projects to constructionThe Florida Department of Transportation is advancing a $35 million stormwater pump and seawall project in Hollywood, while the South Florida Water Management District prepares to construct three major coastal structure upgrades by 2027.

FDOT's $35 million State Road A1A project in Hollywood includes four new stormwater pump stations and seawall installations to combat chronic tidal flooding.

SFWMD is finalizing FEMA design review for the S-27, S-28, and S-29 coastal structures, with construction planned for early 2027.

Agencies are heavily leveraging external funding, including federal PROTECT funds, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) allocations, and state Resilient Florida grants.

South Florida water and transportation agencies are rapidly transitioning major coastal flood control and stormwater management projects from the planning phase into construction, leveraging a mix of federal and state resilience grants. During the June 24, 2026, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Resiliency Coordination Forum, officials highlighted several multi-million-dollar infrastructure upgrades designed to combat chronic tidal and rainfall-induced flooding across the region. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provided a construction update on a $35 million stormwater pump station and seawall installation project along State Road A1A in Hollywood. According to Lindsey Koren, consultant project manager with RS&H, the project was spurred by chronic tidally induced 'sunny day' flooding that frequently overtopped the roadway. The initiative includes the installation of four new stormwater pump stations and the construction of new seawalls built to an elevation of 5 feet NAVD to comply with Broward County's shoreline resilience ordinance. The project features a complex funding strategy. Koren noted that nearly half of the construction funds came from the federal PROTECT program, supplemented by funding from FDOT, Broward County, and the City of Hollywood. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in summer 2027. Simultaneously, SFWMD is advancing major upgrades to its regional flood control network. Dr. Carolina Maran, SFWMD Division Director of Flood Control and Water Supply Planning, announced that the district is nearing the construction phase for the S-27, S-28, and S-29 coastal structures located in the C-7, C-8, and C-9 basins. The district has submitted final designs for the structures to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review. SFWMD is utilizing FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Resilient Florida grants for the upgrades. Maran stated that land negotiations are actively underway with Miami-Dade County and the Village of Miami Shores, with construction slated to begin in early 2027. Local municipalities are also executing targeted stormwater retrofits to complement the regional infrastructure. The City of Boynton Beach recently completed a drainage improvement project in the Lakeside Gardens neighborhood using FEMA HMGP funds, installing new catch basins and outfalls to treat and discharge stormwater into the Lake Worth Lagoon. The city is currently utilizing Resilient Florida funding for the Coquina Cove project, which includes upgrading existing drainage systems, installing a new 24-inch outfall, and rehabilitating an existing sanitary sewer lift station, with completion anticipated in October 2026.