Fort Matanzas Beach Ramp Improvements
Resiliency project to strengthen ramp, repair parking area, and add new ADA-accessible boardwalk
Beginning November 17, 2025, St. Johns County, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), will close the Fort Matanzas Beach Ramp for construction. The ramp, located off State Road A1A approximately 3.9 miles south of State Road 206, will remain closed through May 2026. The resiliency project will strengthen the ramp and adjacent parking area, repair erosion damage from previous storms, and enhance public access to the beach.
The closure will apply to all access, including vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. The parking lot at the ramp will also be closed during construction.
A turnaround will be available at the Spyglass Beach Access Point. To maintain beach access in the area, the Crescent Beach vehicular access ramp will serve as both an entrance and exit during daytime hours. Until the final sea turtle nest hatches, this section of the beach will continue to close to vehicle traffic at 5:30 p.m. each evening.
The project will include the removal and replacement of the existing masonry wall around the parking area to facilitate the construction of a sheet pile wall, reinforced concrete cap, and new asphalt paving. The project will also add an ADA-compliant timber boardwalk with staircases to improve safe pedestrian access to the beach.
The Fort Matanzas Beach Ramp was reconstructed in 2019 and includes a tied-back sheet pile wall on three sides. However, erosion from hurricanes in 2022 damaged the area between the ramp and the adjacent parking lot. Temporary repairs were previously completed to prevent undermining and loss of fill. This project will provide a permanent, long-term solution to those issues.
Construction will occur outside of normal sea turtle nesting season (May 1 through October 31).
“We are proud to facilitate the design and construction of this project and have worked closely with our partners at the National Park Service to ensure the ramp and parking lot improvements provide a long-term resiliency solution,” said Corryn George, Project Manager for St. Johns County Public Works. “We are also excited to construct a new ADA-compliant boardwalk and provide staircases that access the beach directly. Our hope is that this will move pedestrian foot traffic off the vehicular ramp and improve safety in this location.”
This project is being completed as part of a Cooperative Management Agreement (Resolution 2023-444) between St. Johns County and the National Park Service.
Visit the Featured Projects web page for a full list of St. Johns County capital improvement projects, including detailed information on a project status, timelines, and funding.
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