MIDDLETOWN, NJ — This past weekend, Oct. 25 and 26, the New Jersey Department of Transportation began the Shrewsbury Channel Complex dredging project.
The channels were impacted by Superstorm Sandy, and have continued to fill in with sediment ever since. This is a $6.2-million project that aims to make boating safe by dredging the channels to their individual authorized project depths, which range between five to seven feet at mean low water.
The dredging will remove approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sediment from the channels, and all the sediment removed will be transported via pipeline to the Shrewsbury Dredged Material Management Facility.
There will be a pipeline carrying the sediment, and it will be clearly marked with buoys and lights.
The dredging is expected to be completed in December. Work will be conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All channels are expected to remain open throughout the duration of the project, but temporary impacts may take place.
The DOT’s contractor, H&L Construction LLC, will dredge sediment from multiple channels within the Shrewsbury Channel Complex, including:
- Monmouth Beach Channel
- Rumson Country Club Y Chanel
- Rumson Country Club Y Spur
- Rumson Country Club Channel
- Little Silver Creek Spur
- Little Silver Creek Spur 1
- Little Silver Creek Spur 2
- Little Silver Creek Spur 3
- Town Neck Creek
- Oceanport Creek
- Parker Creek
- Horseneck Point Creek
- Blackberry Creek
These are all local waterways heavily used by marine industries, commercial fishermen and countless recreational boaters.
Channel closures are not expected, but if they are needed, closures will be communicated through the Local Notice to Mariners. State Aids to Navigation (ATON) will be removed as necessary for the duration of the project.
The public is advised to be aware of and stay alert for the pipeline, buoys, the dredge and other maritime construction equipment during the project. NJDOT asks that no one enter the construction areas nor approach dredged or project-related equipment.
Boaters should proceed through dredging and construction zones with caution and can contact the contractor for meeting/passing arrangements on Channel 63. No wake/slow speed should be observed in active work zones.
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