TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced a project to dredge three State navigation channels; one in Absecon Inlet in Atlantic County, one in Hereford Inlet in Cape May County and one in Cape May Harbor.
The work is part of a $1.6 million dollar project to dredge State channels that were impacted by Winter Storm Jonas in January 2016. The project will include the following channels: Saint George’s Thorofare, Beach Creek Channel and Spicers Creek Channel. All three channels had been restored to navigable depths by NJDOT following Superstorm Sandy, but had been severely re-shoaled by Winter Storm Jonas. This project will ensure renewed safe navigation, and maintain these channels in a state of good repair.
NJDOT’s contractor, Wickberg Marine Contracting, Inc, has already begun work mechanically dredging sand from the mouth of Saint George’s Channel in Brigantine. The sand is being trucked a short distance away to replenish eroded sections of the Inlet Beach. Work is being performed seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day. Work areas have been fenced off, but the beach is still open. The public is asked to stay well away from dredging and trucking equipment for their safety. No channel closures are expected, although this is subject to change. Work is expected to continue through October.
Work on the Beach Creek channel in North Wildwood will start in mid-October and continue through early November. Sand will be hydraulically dredged during ebb tide only and discharged directly into the inlet, where it is expected to be carried by the tide to replenish sand islands in Hereford Inlet. The dredge and associated pipelines will remain in place even when not actively dredging, so mariners need to take care when passing through the north end of Beach Creek channel into the Hereford Inlet. The pipeline will be clearly marked. Channel closures are not expected, although this is subject to change.
Work in Spicers Creek channel in Cape May Harbor is expected to start in November and continue through the end of the year. Silt will be dredged hydraulically and pumped to the US Army Corps of Engineers’ confined disposal facility adjacent to the Cape May Canal. Work is expected to be performed seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day until complete. No channel closures are expected, although this is subject to change.
Mariners should be advised that State Aids to Navigation (ATON) will be removed from all three channels as necessary for the duration of the project. All mariners, including those utilizing human powered craft, should be especially alert to project pipeline routes and crossings. Updates to the Local Notice to Mariners should be expected as the project progresses.
The public is advised to be aware of and stay alert to the pipeline, buoys, dredge and other equipment during this time. NJDOT asks that no one approach the pipeline, dredge or any related project equipment under any circumstances, whether or not active dredging operations are observed.
Pipelines can often be difficult to see on the water, and boaters should proceed through dredging maintenance and construction zones with the utmost caution. No wake speed should be observed in active work zones throughout the project duration.
Following Superstorm Sandy, NJDOT in March 2014 announced a comprehensive State Channel Dredging and Emergency Response Program to ensure and maintain safe navigation statewide, and to continue to be able to respond adequately to waterway impacts from named storms.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. For NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.
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