STONE HARBOR — Mayor Suzanne Walters had one question after representatives from the DEP Bureau of Coastal Engineering gave a synopsis of the borough’s upcoming beach fill project: “When?”
It could happen next week or it could take place in October.
The answer depends on whether North Wildwood or Stone Harbor will be next in line as contractor Great Lake Dredge Company makes its way down the coast after finishing projects in Strathmere and Sea Isle City, Bureau Supervisor Bill Dickson said.
The North Wildwood project will take about 45 days.
The four towns were able to share total project cost of $22 million.
A state and borough-funded beach fill project will bring about 245,000 cubic yards of sand between 98th Street and 111th Street here.
Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Engineering and Construction Bureau of Coastal Engineering, explained funding, cost, beach closings and its need to access beach block homes during a public information session at council’s meeting Aug. 18.
Borough Hall was packed with residents interested in the project.
Once the project starts, beaches will be closed in 1,000-foot sections, about three blocks at a time, over a two-week period. Contractors will work 24 hours a day. Beaches will reopen as sections are completed.
Walters said the contractor is capable of finishing 450-feet of beach per day.
This is considered an interim project until a more-substantial federal project can be done.
The beachfill will cost the borough about $636,000 out of the total project cost of $2.5 million. The state will fund the remainder. Costs are divided for state projects, such as this, between 75 percent state funding and 25 percent from the town.
Walters said an October start date would be preferred.
Contractors said they will need interior and exterior access to beach block homes, before and after each project segment, in order to do photo documentation of any damages potentially caused by ground vibrations. Levels will be monitored. Beachfront residents will receive a certified letter from the contractor, Business Administrator Ken Hawk said.
Repairs to any streets would need to be paid for by the contractor.
All areas will be surveyed before and after by contractors and state officials.
Outfall pipes will not be touched during the beachfill. Work to divert sewage water to the back bays will commence after Labor Day.
There are no Piping Plover nests within the beachfill area and nesting season ends Aug. 31, Dickson said.
Annually $25 million in Realty Transfer Tax is dedicated for Shore Protection Funds to keep coastal development and infrastructure intact.
Shore Protection Projects are divided into federal and state projects and cost are shared among federal, state and local contributions. Federal projects are divided into 65 percent contribution from the federal government and the other 35 percent is sub-divided into 75 percent from the state and 25 percent from the municipality.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.
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