Northern Ocean County’s Beach Fill Project Kicks Off

The construction of the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet beach fill project in Northern Ocean County, NJ, officially started yesterday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District informs.

USACE’s project manager Keith Watson joined NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin, Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher, and other officials at the kick off ceremony.

“The Christie Administration is pleased that this critical project has begun because it will protect vulnerable beaches along our coast by developing a statewide system of engineered beaches,” Commissioner Martin said.

“This represents one of the largest beach fill contracts in the history of the United States Army Corps of Engineers,” added USACE’s Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Michael Bliss. “The engineered dune and berm system will serve the vital purposes of reducing risk and helping to protect people and property.”

Contractor Weeks Marine of Cranford yesterday began pumping sand in Ortley Beach, which sustained catastrophic damage during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. The work is part of a $128 million project by DEP, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to build beaches and dunes in northern Ocean County.

USACE’s updated schedule for work at other northern Ocean County beaches is as follows:

• Mantoloking: Mid-August to October 2017;
• Seaside Heights: October to November 2017;
• Ortley Beach (Completion): November to December 2017;
• Seaside Park: December 2017 to January 2018;
• Brick: Winter 2018;
• Normandy Beach (Toms River): Winter 2018;
• Lavallette: Spring 2018.

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