Posted on September 16, 2024
September on the Island isn’t just about the return of road and lane closures at its entrance, but the beginning of the next periodic beach replenishment project south of the Causeway.
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. anticipates starting its dredge and placement operations during the week of Sept. 23-27, according to the U.S. Army Corps Philadelphia District. Work is expected to begin in Beach Haven before heading south toward the Holgate section of Long Beach Township.
Once that work is completed, Great Lakes will relocate to Harvey Cedars.
“The schedule is a moving target given variables with weather, equipment, dredging productivity,” according to the Army Corps.
As of Monday, Sept. 9, Surf City was not included in this round of beach nourishment, despite a request from Councilman Peter Hartney. Within days of the Illinois-based company being awarded a $54.4 million contract for the work in August, Hartney said he had reached out to Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.-2nd) and Sen. Corey Booker (D-N.J.) to see about having Surf City added to the current project.
“If they don’t do anything now (on the beaches between 19th and 25th streets), it will be another 10 years before they come back,” Hartney said at August’s borough council meeting. “If something happens (in the meantime), it’s going to cost more (to fix).”
On Sept. 9 the Corps said at this stage of the project including Surf City is not likely, but it is included as a contract option. “We would need additional funding.”
The beach nourishment project is expected to last for approximately 180 days, according to the Corps’ Philadelphia District. It calls for dredging more than 1.75 million cubic yards of sand from the approved offshore sand borrow area.
The sand will then be pumped onto the beach at a number of the most eroded portions of the project within Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars and Long Beach Township, the Corps said, noting the contract does include options for “the placement of additional sand in other areas.”
The project is a joint effort of the Army Corps Philadelphia District, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and the municipalities on Long Beach Island. Work is designed to maintain the dune and berm system in the communities and reduce the risk of storm damages to coastal infrastructure.
In February 2023, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners announced it was prepared to cover the entire local share. The state also contributes to the overall cost. At the time the county commissioners announced their financial commitment, the work was slated to cost about $49 million. At a recent Beach Haven agenda meeting, Borough Manager Sherry Mason reported that she had been assured by Ocean County Comptroller Julie N. Tarrant that even though the project will cost more than expected, the county will cover Beach Haven’s share.
Great Lakes, based in Oak Brook, Ill., has periodically conducted beach replenishment work on the Island since before Superstorm Sandy.
