Stone Harbor Beach Project Passes Halfway Mark (USA)

Stone Harbor’s massive reconstruction of its entire beachfront is more than 50 percent complete and could finish at the end of July.

Borough officials received an update on the project during a meeting on Wednesday, July 10th in Stone Harbor involving the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the contractor for the project, Norfolk Dredging from Norfolk, Virginia.

The anticipated completion date for the project is on or before August 1st.

“The resumption of this major beach fill project is on time, on schedule, and has received an enthusiastic response from our residents and visitors”, said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters. “This beach fill project comes at no cost to Borough taxpayers and will ensure that our Stone Harbor has not only an engineered protective beachfront for our community but also one of the most spacious recreational beachfronts in the State of New Jersey”.

To date, approximately 420,000 cubic yards of sand has been pumped on the southern beachfront in Stone Harbor.

As of Wednesday afternoon, July 10th, Norfolk Dredging was pumping sand onto the 94th Street beach in Stone Harbor.

Norfolk Dredging will continue to work around the clock until the project concludes at the 80th Street border with neighboring Avalon.

Work will only be suspended in the event of ad weather or mechanical failure. Stone Harbor will receive over 710,000 cubic yards of sand to completely restore the beachfront following hurricanes Irene and Sandy.

The beach fill project also includes public crossovers, dune fence, and dune grass planting.

All beaches in Stone Harbor remain open for the duration of this beach fill project with the exception of a maximum of 1,000 feet in the immediate construction area.

Beach goers may access the beachfront a block north or south of the immediate work areas as the project moves in a south to north direction.

“The feedback from the public has been extremely positive filled with great appreciation for our proactive approach to storm mitigation”, Mayor Walters said. “Especially following Hurricane Sandy, the public now has a greater level of respect for coastal storm events and they realize that beaches and dunes are absolutely the first line of defense during a major weather event at the Jersey Shore”.

The Borough began handing out plastic hard hats to children with a sticker “Stone Harbor: Stronger Than the Storm” on the front. Children who visit the Stone Harbor beaches during the month of July who request a hat, while supplies last, will be Honorary Beach Fill Inspectors to ensure that Stone Harbor’s beachfront is properly reconstructed by our partners, Norfolk Dredging Company.

“The response to this fun program has been fantastic”, said Stone Harbor Public Works Director Grant Russ. “Children really love the hats and enjoy watching the beach fill project take place. They ask questions about the work that is being done, and we are happy to tell them all about the project”.

Stone Harbor officials will continue to meet weekly with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Norfolk Dredging Company for updates on the project.

[mappress]

Press Release, July 11, 2013