Congressman Christopher H. Smith, District 4 | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Christopher H. Smith, District 4 | Official U.S. House headshot
Critical beach replenishment work is set to commence next month for Jersey Shore towns in the Fourth Congressional District, according to an announcement by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester). This project, funded with $30.2 million from a federal infrastructure bill, aims to address significant erosion issues that have affected the area over recent years.
“I am pleased that after several contracting delays, this long-awaited project to restore our beaches that have suffered considerable erosion over the past years is finally moving forward,” said Smith. He emphasized the importance of securing this funding and the relief it brings to local communities. “We have never let up on securing this long-overdue, unjustly delayed project,” he added.
The construction schedule spans six to seven months and includes several phases across different locations:
- Seaside Heights and Seaside Park: January-February, 241,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Toms River (South): February-March, 426,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Lavallette: March, 184,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Bay Head and Point Pleasant Beach: Spring, 495,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Mantoloking: Spring, 392,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Brick Township: Early Summer, 227,000 cubic yards of sand.
- Toms River (North): Summer, 135,000 cubic yards of sand.
This initiative faced challenges before Smith's intervention in January 2022 secured half of its $73.5 million total cost through federal support. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract in October to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company based in Houston.
The contract involves dredging and placing approximately 2.1 million cubic yards of sand onto Ocean County beaches from three approved offshore borrow areas. This effort aims not only to widen eroded beach areas but also repair dunes and other structures where necessary.
Smith expressed gratitude towards the Army Corps of Engineers for their expertise and partnership with New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and local municipalities in bringing this project closer to completion.
The original beach fill project was completed between 2017-2019 but requires periodic maintenance to maintain its designed specifications.
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