When Trigg County’s Lake Barkley Beach opens for the 2023 season, it’s going to have a fresh, improved look.
For the next three weeks, nearly 3,300 tons of sand — or 6.6 million pounds — is being hauled in from Owensboro by Lawrenceburg company Oakland Materials & Transport, one truck at a time.
The improvement comes courtesy of state approval, and according to proprietor Al Oakland came at a bid of just over $160,000.
Oakland noted they began hauling efforts last week, and the metrics of the move are massive. In told, it will take more than 130 loads to finish the task — which asks for 2,557 cubic yards, or more than 516,000 gallons.
It’s enough for 1 foot deep of new earth from the shoreline to the parking lot. And the trucks being used are rear-wheel tri-axle Kenworth and Peterbilt, and can haul more than 24 tons of sand per trip.
If each truck were on a scale, Oakland said they would weigh more than 80,000 pounds, and the trucks get roughly 5 ½ to 6 miles on the gallon.
While the beachhead has needed improvements for some time, Oakland added this import is necessary because Lake Barkley doesn’t produce enough wave power to replenish its own sand.
Harold Wilson, Lake Barkley State Resort Park maintenance supervisor, said the spreading of the sand is under his department’s purview — and much like the dumping, must be completed by mid-April in preparation for opening weekend.
Nearing the halfway completion point as of Wednesday afternoon, Wilson added they’re running three pieces of equipment more than 12 hours per shift — using up nearly 50 gallons of petroleum each time.
Wilson and newly-installed Park Manager Ashley Stevenson both confirmed that some updates are also coming to the bath & beach house, and general clean-up of the area has long been underway this spring.
Stevenson said the beach, on average, probably serves 150 visitors per day — locals and visitors alike.
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