Union Beach Will Add Dunes, Beach Berm, Flood Gate Along Raritan Bay

UNION BEACH, NJ — A brand-new Union Beach flood control project will begin this fall, this area's congressman, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) announced Tuesday.

Union Beach will be building an all-new beach berm and planting more dunes along the bayfront on Union Avenue and Front Street. A beach berm is horizontal ridge of sand or other materials on the beach; it is meant to stop the water and prevent flooding.

The town will also build terminal groins, also known as rock jettys, extending out into Raritan Bay. A jetty will be build at the end of Dock Street and a second one will be built where Flat Creek empties out into Raritan Bay.

The first contract was awarded this week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $50 million and will fund construction of the jetties, the new beach berm and the dune planting.

The next phase of the project will include interior flood control structures, including a flood gate.

“This announcement is great news for the borough of Union Beach,” said Union Beach Mayor Charles Cocuzza. “Superstorm Sandy devastated our borough and only amplified the need to protect our residents from the growing threat of sea level rise and stronger storms.”

"We are grateful to Congressman Pallone, our federal delegation, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for their steadfast support of the Union Beach Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Project," said Cocuzza.

“I’m happy to see that the Union Beach flood control project is set to begin this year. Coastal states like New Jersey are on the frontlines of rising sea levels and stronger storms due to climate change,” said Congressman Pallone.