CANCUN, April 20, 2006 -- Cancun has long been known for its beautiful beaches of flour-like sand. Cool to the touch, it's the type of beach that occupies our dreams and makes us want to return again and again. It was also one of the primary casualties of Hurricane Wilma, which pounded Cancun on October 21, 2005 - exactly six months ago.
But now, thanks to a $20 million shore-renovation program led by the Belgium-based Jan de Nul Group, the beaches are back. The company worked around the clock to suction sand onto ships 20 miles offshore, then pump it to the beach through 32-inch steel pipes. Each day, nearly 100,000 square feet of sand were replaced.
In addition to the beach repairs, the main road through the hotel zone has been repaved, twice as many palm trees as were lost have been planted and an extensive biking and walking path has been created. More than 100 hotels have reopened, with 18,000 hotel rooms operating and by June, there will be 27,000 rooms ready to welcome guests.
By comparison, when Hurricane Gilbert struck the area in September 1988, it took the government two months even to restore electricity and the beaches were never repaired.
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