AVALON – The emergency bridge work being done by the county on Avalon Boulevard has delayed the start of the back-passing project that takes sand from mid-borough beaches and uses it to relieve badly eroded beaches in the north end.
In March the borough notified the public that work on restoring the north end beaches would be moved to June due to the county bridge work. But recently it appeared that the county’s work might extend into July, a circumstance that would greatly impede the ability of the borough to repair the north end beaches for much of the summer.
On May 14, Administrator Scott Wahl told the Borough Council that an alternative plan had been worked out that will allow the project to begin just after Memorial Day through the use of small excavator trucks that will be able to get onto the island after May 29.
The contractor, Schiavone Construction, the same contractor working on the rejuvenation of the Bay Side Marina, has the equipment ready to begin work as soon as the trucks can access the island.
The earlier plan to complete the project by working through the night in June is again operational. The work will be done Monday through Friday, with all equipment off the beaches by 8 a.m., according to a post on the borough website. The Avalon beachfront will be an active construction site from Ninth Street to 40th Street during the overnight hours. Beach access will be restricted during working hours.
Wahl also relayed good news concerning eroded beach access paths in the north end. Four paths have been closed due to erosion.
Wahl said, “As of Friday, May 16th, the beach paths at both 14th Street and 15th Street have been rebuilt and opened by the Avalon Department of Public Works. Two beach paths will remain closed through Memorial Day weekend, at 10th and 11th streets.”
The closed paths will be opened once the sand is moved and they can be rebuilt.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
