Posted on May 26, 2025
If you’re heading to the Jersey Shore for Memorial Day weekend, get ready to check out some wider beaches.
A $73.5 million dredging and beachfill project began in January for beachfront communities in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Like other projects at the shore in past years, it aims to help fortify and widen the beaches.
The project, between Point Pleasant Beach to Seaside Park, is complete, according to Stephen Rochette, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, at least 5 towns will still undergo work during the summer.
The beachfront communities in Ocean County that are finished getting sand include Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Toms River Township South/Ortley Beach, and Lavallette.
However, Rochette said dredge and beachfill operations remain for other beaches in Ocean County.
Work in Bay Head and in Point Pleasant Beach is estimated to last until June.
Brick Township and Toms River Township beach dredge and beachfill is estimated to take place in the summer.
The beachfill in Brick Township is estimated to take 18 to 20 days and Toms River Township’s project is estimated at 10 to 15 days.
Mantoloking work is estimated to begin dredge and beachfill in late summer or early fall.
“With dredging and marine construction, the schedule can vary due to weather, mechanical issues, and other factors to include the availability of dredging equipment,” said Rochette.
“This contract did have some changes to the schedule due to the availability of dredging equipment,” he said.
So exactly how many cubic yards of sand does it take to replenish a beach?
Rochette provided these numbers:
- Seaside Heights with taper into Seaside Park – 176,118 cubic yards in Seaside Heights and 16,048 cubic yards in Seaside Park.
- Toms River (South) – 513,250 cubic yards of sand.
- Lavallette – 191,216 cubic yards of sand.
- Bay Head with taper into Point Pleasant Beach – 495,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Brick Township – 227,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Toms River (North) – 135,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Mantoloking – 392,000 cubic yards of sand.
In January, work to widen beaches in Ocean County began with the objective of pumping an estimated 2.1 million cubic yards of sand onto the shoreline between the Manasquan Inlet and Seaside Park.
The Army Corps said that’s the equivalent of 150,000 to 210,000 dump trucks full of sand.
