MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Just as the summer tourism season kicks off next year in Myrtle Beach, a process that can shut down small sections of beach will likely begin.

City officials recently learned the Army Corps of Engineers will probably start beach renourishment, which involves pumping offshore sand onto beaches, in May and work on the project through late fall, city administrator John Pedersen told News13.

“It’s not ideal,” Pedersen said. The city has asked Representative Tom Rice’s office if anything can be done to adjust the timeline, but Pedersen said the plan is nearly finalized. “We think he’s going to bat for us, but the Corps has a schedule.”

Surfside Beach faced a similar scenario late last summer as renourishment started on its beaches.

Beach renourishment brought heavy equipment onto the beach and forced a closure of approximately 1000 feet of the beach at a time.

The work area moved down the beach every two or three days. But weather and equipment problems forced the project to halt repeatedly.

“Some people won’t like the idea that there will be beach renourishment happening on their vacation,” Pedersen told News13. “On the other hand there are a lot of people who find the process of beach renourishment fascinating.”

Pedersen expects the city to get nearly one million cubic yards of sand which is four times the amount originally requested.

“Since Hurricane Irma we re-applied to have the Corps of Engineers consider replacing some of the sand that was lost before, in Hurricane Matthew, and in Irma,” said Pedersen. “We believe they’re going to give that positive consideration at this point. It’s looking very good.”

Director of Sales and Marketing for Vacation Myrtle Beach Resorts, Matt Klugman, said the new sand is needed.

“The sand dunes have taken a hit and the beaches are just not the same as what they’ve been a couple years ago,” said Klugman. “Not necessarily knowing what the specific schedule is, that makes it a little tougher if it is during peak season which is why if it was during a shoulder month it would be certainly easier.”

The city of Myrtle Beach doesn’t know how much its renourishment project will cost. Pedersen expected the bidding process to start in February or March. The city will get some federal funding, but it has set aside $3 million to pay for additional costs.