by: Action News Jax Updated: Jun 6, 2017 - 7:16 AM

The second phase of restoring area coastlines begins Tuesday as crews head out to plant more than half a million plants and vegetation to build up the dunes.

The Army Corps of Engineers announced last week they finished the first part of the beach re-nourishment project to replace sand eroded in the storm.

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The goal of the project is to help reduce any coastal damage from storms or hurricanes.

After hurricane Matthew tore through the dunes, Duval County has been preparing for potential hurricanes during the 2017 season, which started June 1.

Last week contractors finished dredge work to restore protection features.

The project started in mid-September, but when hurricane Matthew hit in October it put a hold on the project and created additional work.

Close to 3 billion pounds of sand was dredged and used to rebuild the beach and dunes, and the 600,000 native dune plants such as sea oats and railroad vine will help reinforce the work from phase one of the project.

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Thousands of residents and businesses in Duval County benefit from this shore project because storm events erode the beach rather than destroying coastal infrastructure.

Coastal communities with engineered beaches have historically fared much better than other communities as proven by numerous studies.

Crews will be planting vegetation through mid-August on the Neptune, Atlantic and Jacksonville beaches.

2017 Cox Media Group.

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Jacksonville beaches begin new phase for renourishment - ActionNewsJax.com