$33.7M Dune Replenishment Project Set For Ocean City, More

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City and surrounding areas will undergo further work to reduce storm damages to coastal infrastructure, according to officials.

A $33.7 million contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, Ill. to complete periodic nourishment of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management project in southern Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District news release.

Work is designed to maintain the dune and berm system in the communities and reduce the risk of storm damages to coastal infrastructure.

The contract calls for dredging more than 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from two borrow areas (one is located off Corson's Inlet and the other is located approximately three miles offshore of Sea Isle City). The sand will be pumped onto the beach at the following locations:

• 257,000 cubic yards in south Ocean City from about 45th-59th Streets
• 456,000 cubic yards in Upper Township/Strathmere from Corson's Inlet to about Jasper Road
• 252,000 cubic yards in central Sea Isle City from about 29th-53rd Streets
• 388,000 cubic yards in south Sea Isle City from about 73rd St to Townsends Inlet

The sand is then graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events. The contract also includes options for the placement of additional sand. Dune crossovers/access paths, fencing and other features will be installed/repaired as part of the contract.

Work is set to begin in fall or winter.