Posted on February 1, 2022
Millions in federal cash will fund Raritan River dredging, a Cheesequake Creek jetty rehab and Highlands flood control on the bayfront.
OLD BRIDGE, NJ — Last Thursday, Rep. Frank Pallone announced this area will get a massive influx of federal cash to pay for dredging and flood prevention along the Raritan River and Raritan Bay, plus beach replenishment further down the Jersey Shore.
Pallone, a Democrat, is the congressman who represents the Raritan Bayshore region.
New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District will get $197.4 million from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden this past November. The state of New Jersey alone will get $1 billion from that act.
The $197.4 million will be used to pay for the following new projects, all slated to begin sometime in 2022:
- Dredging and survey of the Raritan River: $5,555,000 (Pallone’s office did not know exactly where on the Raritan the dredging will take place.)
- Cheesequake Creek Jetty Rehabilitation: $30,000,000
- The borough of Highlands will initiate and physically complete a flood control project: $128,700,000 (This flood control project will be located along the bayfront in Highlands.)
- Beach replenishment from Sandy Hook to Manasquan: $24,400,000 (That doesn’t mean all towns will receive sand. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has to conduct a study and see which towns are most in need of sand.)
In addition, these following projects will be paid for using disaster relief funding. Biden signed the Disaster Relief Supplemental into law in September 2021:
- Engineering/design for flood control projects along the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay: $2,400,000
- Engineering, design and flood control projects specifically in Keansburg, East Keansburg and Laurence Harbor: $3,200,000
- General re-evaluation for flood control from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet and Sea Bright to Manasquan: $3,200,000
Congressman Pallone announced the funding last Thursday, Jan. 27 at Old Bridge Waterfront Park, across from the Raritan Marina.
“Nearly $1 billion is headed to New Jersey, including $200 million for my district, in one of the largest infrastructure investments we’ve ever seen,” said Pallone. “With these new funds, we will be able to put New Jerseyans to work dredging our rivers, replenishing our beaches with sand, and building new jetties and sea walls. We’re investing in safe and navigable rivers for boaters to enjoy, and nourishing our beautiful beaches.”
Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry was on hand, as was a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, plus Al Brown of Brown’s Boat Yard, Bill and Theresa Lockwood, the owners of Lockwood Marina, David Reni, the owner of Raritan Marina and Michael Walter, the owner of Morgan Marina.
Marina owner Bill Lockwood praised the federal cash infusion.
“The Cheesequake Channel is a critical access point to the Raritan Bay for four marinas located in Sayreville, South Amboy and Old Bridge,” said Lockwood. “Unfortunately, many boaters cannot access the waterway, because it’s too shallow. Strong storms, especially Nor’easters, pull the sand off the beach in Old Bridge and pushes it over the rock jetty and settles in the channel. The displaced sediment creates issues for recreational boats who are unable to use the channel freely.”
“These upgrades to the Cheesequake Channel are long overdue,” Lockwood continued. “They will help the local economy and give boaters access to the Raritan Bay via the Cheesequake Channel for years to come. We’re grateful for Congressman Pallone for helping us get this funding.”
Here is a livestream of that Jan. 27 press conference at Old Bridge Waterfront Park.
