Posted on May 27, 2024
North Wildwood’s Beach Dredging Project Explained
There have been so many questions about the upcoming North Wildwood’s Emergency Beach Dredging Project so we decided to make a video and an article breaking down everything we know.
You can watch the video at the bottom of this article.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is set to start the much-anticipated Emergency Beach Nourishment Dredging Project in North Wildwood next week on or around June 3rd.
Spearheaded by North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, this initiative aims to replenish the North Wildwood beaches just in time for the bulk of the summer season.
Here’s what residents and visitors need to know about the upcoming construction.
Project Timeline and Preparation
Preparation for the project is already in progress, with H & L Contracting and Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) as the primary contractor and sub-contractor, respectively.
Equipment mobilization is slated to begin the week of May 20, with sand pumping expected to start during or before the first week of June.
Construction Plan
The sand pumping operation will begin at 7th Avenue, moving south to north, and will wrap around the jetty at 2nd Avenue and John F. Kennedy Blvd. Once this section is completed, the contractors will return to 7th Avenue and continue south.
Think of this as a phase 1 (front to 7th Ave) and phase 2 (7th to…). The reason that phase 2 has no end street is due to a few different factors. These factors is money, time and location.
The state of New Jersey is putting up $10 million for this project with North Wildwood adding up to $7 million more as needed.
The additional money would allow them to move south as much as possible until they hit their ideal target or if they run out of money or time.
Their window to finish this project is before July 4th so if they are able to get to 18th street and only use $5 million then great.
They could get to 15th street but it be July 4th, then they would stop. Or they could use none of the additional money from the city and hit the 18th before July 4th that’s even better.
Beach Access and Safety Measures
Construction will proceed in approximately 1,000-foot increments along the beach, and sections under active work will be closed to public access.
These areas will be clearly marked with posts and signs indicating closure. NJDOT, in collaboration with the contractor, aims to reopen sections of the beach to the public as soon as it is safe.
Police Department and Beach Patrol members will monitor these areas to ensure public safety. Even in sections that appear to be free of construction, beachgoers should be cautious of dredge pipes that may be lying across the beach.
Access over these pipes will be allowed only if they are outside the construction zones, with ramps provided to facilitate pedestrian movement to and from the ocean side.
How Much Sand Will Be Moved?
Since this project doesn’t have an ending street set in stone, the amount of sand needed for the project varies wildly.
At the low end, if they were only able to do Phase 1, this could be around 330,000 cubic yards of sand. If crews are able to get all the way down to 18th street+, we could see see over 1,000,000 cubic yards of sand used.
Staging Areas and Parking Closures
NJDOT and the contractors will stage trailers and equipment at the following off-beach locations:
6th-7th Avenues (landward side of the bulkhead between the bulkhead and playground equipment)
15th Avenue & Beach Municipal Parking Lot
16th-17th Avenues (landward side of the dune between vehicle access and dune)
During the project, the 15th Avenue Beach Municipal Lot and the LSV Parking Area at 15th Avenue will be closed to public parking. Additional traffic and parking areas may also face temporary closures.
Project Completion and Updates
The Emergency Beach Nourishment Dredge Project is expected to be completed around July 4, 2024. However, this timeline may change based on the final project design, which is still being finalized by the City, NJDOT, and the State.
City of North Wildwood and NJDOT officials will provide frequent updates to keep everyone informed about closures and interruptions. For more information, residents and visitors can contact the City at (609) 522-6464.
The NJDOT and the City of North Wildwood apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the cooperation and support from the public during this essential project.
