PHOTO VIA CITY OF DAYTONA BEACH GOVERMENT FACEBOOK
Daytona Beach is set to formally reopen one of its most recognizable landmarks. The city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 3, at the base of the Main Street Arch at the eastern tip of Main Street by Ocean Avenue [GMap].
The Main Street Arch has stood since 1936, originally constructed by the Works Progress Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Over nearly 90 years, it has linked Daytona’s boardwalk and pier and become a symbol of the city.
Restoration was prompted after engineers detected exterior cracking on the arch. A deeper assessment revealed deterioration in internal steel and concrete components. To preserve the landmark’s historic character while ensuring safety, the project included foundational repairs, stonework restoration, resurfacing, stucco and paint updates, repairs to expansion joints, and other structural reinforcements.
The city reports the restoration cost is in excess of $800,000, with funding coming from Community Redevelopment funds and other municipal sources. Work focused on both aesthetics and longevity: decorative coquina stone features were rebuilt or replaced, and modern materials were used internally to strengthen the structure against deterioration and saltwater corrosion.
The project also addressed secondary elements around the arch. On the north side, the decorative fountain and stairway stonework were also restored. Interior walls were refinished, handrails treated with epoxy coating, and the iconic front sign was reinstalled.
Click HERE for more information on the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
