Major Beach Replenishment Project To Begin In Ocean City Later This Month

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Work is expected to begin later this month on an $11.5 million project to rebuild the beaches on the north end of Ocean City, Mayor Jay Gillian announced. As part of the project, at least 930,000 cubic yards of sand will be added to the beach between Seaspray Road and 12th Street. More sand will be stockpiled for rebuilding dunes in areas near Fifth Street and 10th Street.

“Surveys to be conducted in the next few weeks could add to the scope of the project and could potentially extend the project area by a block or two,” Gillian said.

The work is expected to begin by the end of October, and last about 50 days. The project is expected to be finished by January at the latest.

The 305-foot cutter section dredge Texas will pump sand for the project from a borrow area about a mile off Great Egg Harbor Inlet. The pipeline from the dredge will land on the beach at Morningside Road, according to Gillian. Work will proceed north to south, and about 1,000 feet of beach will be closed to the public at a time.

“This is the eighth Army Corps of Engineers renourishment project since an initial restoration in the 1990s,” Gillian said. “I want to thank our partners at the federal and state levels, who will pay more than 90 percent of the job’s cost. These projects are absolutely vital to the protection of property in Ocean City. The south end also remains on schedule for replenishment sometime in late 2018 or early 2019.”

He also provided updates on four other projects, including hydraulic dredging at Carnival Bayou (between W. 16th Street and W. 17th Street). Work on that project is expected to begin Oct. 16.

“The contractor is authorized to dredge private slips once the city contract is complete,” Gillian said. “The state Department of Transportation will contribute about $1.2 million of the project's estimated $1.6 million cost. A contract for the mechanical dredging of Sunny Harbor and South Harbor is scheduled to be awarded on Oct. 12. ‘Site 83’ off Roosevelt Boulevard has been successfully emptied and restored, so we should be in good position for a continued dredging program in 2018.”

Construction on the 34th Street Bridge resumes Tuesday, Oct. 10, with the bridge closing from 10 p.m. on Oct. 9 through 5 a.m. Oct. 10 to allow crews to set up the single-lane alternating traffic pattern that will be in effect through the off-season.

Finally, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is working with Ocean City on an expedited permit modification for the north end drainage project.

“We remain on target to award a contract for this important work by the end of the year,” Gillian said. “Contractors continue to make good progress on our Fourth Ward drainage project. Check here for the latest update.”

Patch file photo