Posted on March 5, 2018
The current plan for beach restoration in Harvey Cedars, Surf City and a section of Brant Beach involves contractor Weeks Marine sending dredges to Harvey Cedars and Brant Beach to begin work in March.
According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Officer Steve Rochette, the R.S. Weeks pipeline dredge would be stationed in Harvey Cedars to commence work in that municipality. Operations would then transition to Surf City. Scheduled completion for beachfill in the two towns is the end of May.
Meanwhile, work in the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township – from 31st to 57th Street – is also expected to begin in March, with the Magdalen hopper dredge, and to last approximately 30 days.
Cranford-based Weeks Marine was the low bidder for the Long Beach Island replenishment, a $34 million base bid and $40 million for base plus contract options.
In November 2016, another contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., concluded initial construction of LBI’s dune and berm system. The entire project area then became eligible for the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program funds. As Rochette has explained previously, “After a significant storm event, we conduct a damage assessment and determine whether the project is eligible based on certain criteria. This program is national and funds repairs to projects across the country, so if the project has been approved and if there’s adequate funding available, we would move forward to repair the project or portions of the project.”
Following storms in October 2015 and January 2016, Harvey Cedars, Surf City and a stretch of Brant Beach were deemed eligible for replenishment; however, there was not adequate funding in the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program at the time. The rehabilitation project, though, was later allotted appropriations through this program, provided by Congress through Public Law 114-254 (Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act 2017).
While those areas will see replenishment soon, the entirety of the project area will continue to be surveyed on a routine basis, in addition to undergoing evaluation following any significant storm events.
Source: The SandPaper.Net
