Avalon and Stone Harbor 2023 beachfill on the way

A pre-construction meeting for the upcoming 2023 Beach Fill project for Avalon and Stone Harbor beaches was held at Stone Harbor Borough Hall last week.

Participants in the meeting included representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Borough of Stone Harbor and Avalon, and the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Illinois.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, IL for $28.8 million to conduct the beachfill project in Avalon and Stone Harbor.

The project is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor.

The contract calls for dredging sand from the Townsends Inlet borrow site. Sand is then pumped through a series of pipes, placed on beaches, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events. The contract includes the following work:

• Avalon: Sand will be placed from 9^th Street to 18^th The contract currently calls for 231,000 cubic yards of sand to be placed; however, the contract includes options to place additional sand,
• Stone Harbor: Sand will be placed from 90^thto 123^rd The contract currently calls for placing 464,000 cubic yards of sand; however, the contract includes options to place additional sand.

The beach nourishment project will start at the north end of Avalon, working south down to Stone Harbor. The start and end dates of the project may also be affected by weather conditions and mechanical maintenance issues.

While residents may observe mobilization work starting in late February, the beach fill in Avalon is anticipated to start on or around March 20, starting at Townsends Inlet groin and build south.

Work in Avalon is anticipated to be completed between March 30 – April 16, depending upon how many additional options are approved by the Army Corps. Once work is complete in Avalon, it will take approximately two days to mobilize the equipment to Stone Harbor.

Stone Harbor beach fill will then begin at the northernmost fill section and build south, between April 1 – April 17.

Depending upon how many additional options are approved by the Army Corps, work will be completed in Stone Harbor approximately 32 days after the start, for base work only.

The end date will vary from May 3 (if Avalon receives no additional options); May 19 (if Avalon receives all options); or June 9 (if both Avalon and Stone Harbor receive all options).