You won’t be able to access this Hilton Head Plantation beach for a month. Here’s why

Access to a popular beach in Hilton Head Plantation will be closed from four to six weeks, according to general manager Peter Kristian.

A boardwalk is being constructed at the only mainland access point to Pine Island Beach, which is open to the public by boat or accessible through Hilton Head Plantation, Kristian said Friday. There has never been a boardwalk leading to the beach, he said.

The $238,700 project will be six feet wide and 500 feet long, which will help visitors safely access the beach and allow emergency personnel to easily get there if needed.

“We’re really excited about it,” Kristian said. “They’ll have permanent access even at high tide.”

In addition, $100,000 worth of sand will be brought in to replenish what Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Irma swept away, Kristian said.

The community’s property owners association will pay for the boardwalk, but will be reimbursed by the Town of Hilton Head for the $100,000 needed for renourishment, Kristian said.

Originally, the town planned to set aside sand and truck it to the plantation to renourish Pine Island Beach, but residents objected to it, Kristian said previously.

As a compromise, the town and plantation agreed the community would perform its own renourishment and be reimbursed by the town.

This story was originally published February 23, 2018 at 11:28 AM with the headline "You won’t be able to access this Hilton Head Plantation beach for a month. Here’s why."