Chilmark selectmen have chosen a West Tisbury contractor to create a new beach as part of the town’s portion of the Squibnocket Beach project.

Selectmen opened three bids at a special meeting of the board on Nov. 14.

Construction is in progress on raised causeway to Squibnocket Farm. The causeway is a privately-funded project near the town beach that will precede removal of the revetment. — Mark Alan Lovewell

White Brothers-Lynch Corporation, with facilities in Falmouth and Oak Bluffs offered to do the job for $614,875.

Sumco, an eco-contracting firm based in Salem, bid $605,500.

John Keen Excavation of West Tisbury bid $439,500.

Selectmen awarded the contract to Keene Excavation, the low bidder.

The contractor will begin a process of so-called managed retreat, to return the beach to a natural environment.

The stone boulder revetment will be removed along with the current parking lot. About 3,500 cubic yards of sand will be trucked to the site to create a natural beach and dunes.

The contractor will also build a 44-space public parking lot along both sides of Squibnocket Road, a short distance from the beach.

Work on the managed retreat will be funded by the town. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring, as soon as the Squibnocket Farm Homeowners Association completes its part of the public/private project, a raised causeway that will provide stable access to the Squibnocket Farm development.