Sea Isle City, Strathmere Beachfill Project Moves Ahead After $28M Federal Funding

CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has published a contract solicitation for dune and beachfill work in Sea Isle City and the Strathmere section of Upper Township, three days after receiving $28 million in federal funding for the project.

The update covers periodic nourishment of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet dune and beachfill project.

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According to the Army Corps, the base contract calls for dredging, pumping and placing more than 1.1 million cubic yards of sand from two borrow areas. One borrow area is off Corsons Inlet, and the other is about three miles offshore of Sea Isle City. The sand would then be graded into an engineered dune and berm template designed to maintain the dune and berm system and reduce damage from coastal storms.

In Strathmere, the contract calls for 863,000 cubic yards of sand to be placed from north of Seaview Avenue to the Landis/Commonwealth intersection, a stretch of about 5,168 feet. In Sea Isle City, 299,000 cubic yards of sand would be placed from between 29th and 30th streets to between 54th and 55th streets, covering about 6,771 feet.

The contract also includes options for additional sand placement. Dune crossovers or access paths, fencing and other features will be installed or repaired as part of the work, according to the project update.

The Army Corps said it will continue to expedite pre-construction steps consistent with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works’ “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative. The specific timing for construction has not been set. According to the update, the schedule will depend on bids from private industry and the availability of dredging equipment.

The project is a joint effort involving the Army Corps’ Philadelphia District, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the municipalities. Costs are shared evenly, with 50 percent federal funding and 50 percent non-federal funding.

The Philadelphia District is also preparing separate contract solicitations for projects in North Ocean City and Avalon/Stone Harbor. According to the update, the agency will continue to expedite each step so construction can move forward as quickly as possible.