Nicole's storm waves gnaw away chunks of A1A, closing stretch of road in Flagler Beach

Frank Fernandez, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
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Tropical Storm Nicole sent ocean waves crashing into A1A along Flagler Beach, tearing away chunks of the scenic coastal road which has now been closed from South Seventh Street to the Volusia County line.

The damage was reminiscent of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 which gnawed away huge chunks of the road.

On Thursday, it was Nicole’s turn.

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Powerful waves ripped out one chunk of the northbound lane near South 12th Street. The Atlantic tore off another piece near South 17th Street. Waves chewed away at A1A and Clubhouse Drive, north of the county line.

“It’s not been a great day for the city,” City Manager William Whitson said in a brief phone interview.

Whitson said the Florida Department of Transportation was on the scene.

“They are in the process of doing an assessment and emergency repairs,” he said.

Waves breach South 12 Street and A1A in Flagler Beach during Tropical Storm Nicole, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.
Waves breach South 12 Street and A1A in Flagler Beach during Tropical Storm Nicole, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.

He said the section of the road will remain closed until the Florida Department of Transportation gives the city the “all-clear.”

Tropical Storm Ian, which hit Florida on Sept. 28, caused a depression and a hole to open up on A1A; both were quickly repaired. But this damage is much more severe.

Jason Thomas, of Flagler Beach, was checking on a friend’s home at 17th Street South.

“It’s probably the worst I’ve seen that a tropical storm has done in this area,” he said.

People check out one of the chunks of A1A in Flagler Beach torn off Thursday by waves driven by Tropical Storm Nicole.
People check out one of the chunks of A1A in Flagler Beach torn off Thursday by waves driven by Tropical Storm Nicole.

Hurricane Matthew in 2016 ripped away huge chunks of A1A. After Matthew, the road was quickly patched temporarily. Then the state rebuilt the road in a project that was completed in early 2020.

David and Lynne Welsh walked from their home to take a look first-hand at the road's damage, which they had seen in picture.

“It’s in pretty bad shape,” Lynne Welsh said. “When Ian hit we had some buckling, but it wasn’t this bad.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler Beach closes part of A1A following Tropical Storm Nicole