Ocean City Beach Project Won't Start Before Summer

A federal project to rebuild beaches and dunes at the southern end of Ocean City will not start before summer, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Gov. Chris Christie announced in October an "accelerated schedule" of projects to restore beaches damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The schedule called for the Ocean City project to start in March.

But the work is not likely to start until after Labor Day, according to Ed Voigt and Richard Pearsall of the Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District.

A complex array of partnership agreements, environmental permits and other prerequisite planning will keep the project from starting in the spring, they said.

"It looks now as if we'll go out for bids on the Ocean City project in May, award a contract in July and start work after Labor Day," Pearsall said.

The schedule affects property owners, beachgoers, vacationers and rental agencies at the southern end of the island, where eroded beaches disappeared during some high tides even before Superstorm Sandy hit in October 2012. Sandy's storm surge flattened dunes and led to a stopgap effort to truck in sand to form a temporary dune to protect property. The city then spent another $1.1 million to truck in more sand to elevate and widen beaches between 49th and 59th streets.

Residents and vacationers had been hoping for a project that would restore beaches before the start of the 2014 season.

"We have recently been receiving conflicting information regarding the schedule for the beach replenishment project for the south end of Ocean City, including the possibility that construction may not begin until after Labor Day," Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said in a statement on Thursday. "We know of no reason or combination of reasons that would cause a delay from the schedule we were elated to hear announced in October of last year. I have contacted Governor Christie’s Office, along with Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and Congressman LoBiondo to request their assistance in having this project proceed in a timely manner."

"In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the condition of our beaches and take all necessary steps to protect public and private property," Gillian said.

At Thursday's City Council meeting, Business Administrator Mike Dattilo reported the that city is ready to truck in more sand, if necessary, to protect property at the southern end of the island. Council approved contracts for the contingency in the fall.

State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna confirmed that the environmental work and design reviews necessary for large-scale beach projects led to the delayed schedule.

"You would have to expect that there would be some revision to schedules," Hajna said.

The federal government will pick up the full estimated $63 million cost of the initial project in Ocean City, which will include Strathmere (Upper Township) and Sea Isle City. The project area would then be part of a three-year maintenance cycle with the Army Corps of Engineers returning to restore the beaches to the initial project dimensions. The project area will include beaches from 34th to 59th streets in Ocean City.

The federal government pays for 65 percent of the program, while the state Department of Environmental Protection picks up the other 35 percent. Of the state's portion, Ocean City is required to contribute 25 percent. That leaves Ocean City responsible for only 8.75 percent of the total cost for subsequent projects.

Three other projects, Manasquan Inlet-to-Barnegat Inlet, Long Beach Island and Margate-Longport, look to be a couple of months behind Ocean City, according to Pearsall, with solicitation for bids going out in July, awards made in September and construction starting after that.

In announcing his "schedule for critical Army Corps beach and dune construction projects that will reduce risk to lives, properties and infrastructure by rebuilding 44 miles of New Jersey coastline and providing the state with the most comprehensive and continuous coastal protection system it has ever had," Christie released the following estimated project dates in October:

• Project agreement: December 2013 
• Projected construction start: March 2014

• Project agreement: January 2014 
• Projected construction start: April 2014

• Project agreement: January 2014 
• Projected construction start: April 2014

• Project agreement: March 2014 
• Projected construction start: June 2014