Absecon Island beachfill project starting soon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District shared an update regarding periodic nourishment of the Absecon Island dune and beachfill project in New Jersey.

USACE awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Houston, Texas for $38.2 million to complete periodic nourishment of the project. The contract calls for dredging and placing 1.2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beaches of Absecon Island.

Sand will be dredged from two designated borrow areas – one located within Absecon Inlet and the other in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the island. The sand is then pumped onto the beach, and graded into an engineered template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events.

Most of the base contract work involves widening the beach in eroded areas concentrated in the northern end of Atlantic City and portions of Ventnor City. Also, in some areas, including Margate and Longport, dunes, beach access paths/crossovers, and sand fencing will be repaired. Dune grass will be planted in areas that undergo repairs.

GLDD plans to mobilize to Atlantic City in November 2024 and to Ventnor City in December 2024. Construction is expected to take 2-4 months depending on weather and overall production.