Stalled LBI Beach Replenishment Work Finally Under Way

Beach replenishment on Long Beach Island has resumed, five months after the contractor pulled out of the work to handle jobs in other parts of the country.

The return of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. pleased state environmental protection officials who were incensed that the company’s juggling of several projects put the Ocean County barrier island at risk of damage over the winter when storms tend to be more prevalent and ferocious.

The work started in Beach Haven and will continue south into the Holgate section of Long Beach Township, which sustained severe damage after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

The stalled beach replenishment work in Beach Haven and Holgate is set to get underway within the next two weeks, federal officials say.

“While we were disappointed the dredges abandoned the project and left some parts of Long Beach Island vulnerable for the winter, we are delighted that work has resumed,” state Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. “We remain committed to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete this project and provide maximum coastal projection for the people, homes and businesses of Long Beach Island.”

The $138 million project began last May, when work started in Ship Bottom, Brant Beach and other parts of Long Beach Township. Great Lakes pulled its equipment out in December and work initially was thought to begin in January but was stalled yet again for scheduling reasons. The DEP said that because of the way the contract was written with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it had no recourse but to wait.

The goal of the state is to have all of the beaches on the nearly 13-mile barrier island replenished. However, the Army Corps is still faced with repairing replenished beaches there damaged in a series of nor’easters over the winter. Also, work in some sections of Long Beach Township, including Loveladies, has been delayed because several oceanfront homeowners have refused to grant rights to their property to build the dunes and widen the beaches there.

Last week, the Liberty Island dredge started pumping sand just north of West Osborn Avenue on the border of Beach Haven and Long Beach Township, while the Dodge Island and Padre Island dredges were working about 2 miles north at East 13^th Street, DEP officials said.

Replenishment in Beach Haven is expected to finish by the first week in June, before Great Lakes moves south to Holgate at the southern tip of the island.

Following the work in Holgate, the contractor is set to head north to North Beach and then to Loveladies in Long Beach Township to complete the project.

Source: NJ.com