Critical, extensive beach protection efforts, made possible by federal funding secured by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), will FINALLY begin on Monday, Feb. 10.

“Our NJ coastline often bears the brunt of frequent, major storm events that over time cause significant erosion, decimate our local beaches and threatens the safety and well-being of local homeowners and beachgoers,” Smith said.  “To help protect our shore communities and help our towns meet the staggering costs of beach erosion, the Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin critical beach replenishment work for shore towns in my congressional district from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet. This long-awaited project is overdue and greatly welcomed.”

Despite earlier signoff on the work process, the project came to a near halt, until Smith intervened in January 2022 and secured the entire federal share—$30.2 million—from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. These critical federal funds represent a significant portion of the project’s total cost of $73.5 million.

After overcoming the initial funding hurdle, the project then had to overcome several contracting delays. However, Smith, local mayors, and county and state officials never gave up and in October 2024, the Army Corps awarded the contract for the ocean dredging and sand distribution to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company.

The Army Corps informed Smith that the tentative schedule—which could vary slightly based on weather and sea conditions—entails the following six-to-seven-month construction estimate:

• Seaside Heights with taper into Seaside Park: work is estimated to take place in February and include 241,000 cubic yards of sand;
• Toms River (South): work is estimated to take place in February/March and include 426,000 cubic yards of sand;
• Lavallette: work is estimated to take place in March and include 184,000 cubic yards of sand;
• Bay Head with taper into Point Pleasant Beach: work is estimated to take place in Spring and include 495,000 cubic yards of sand;
• Mantoloking: work is estimated to take place in Spring and include 392,000 cubic yards of sand;
• Brick Township: work is estimated to take place in early Summer and include 227,000 cubic yards of sand; and
• Toms River (North): work is estimated to take place in Summer and include 135,000 cubic yards of sand.

"Our shore communities will benefit greatly from this federal program and partnership to address significant safety concerns from beach erosion and help blunt damaging effects of future major storms,” Smith said. “I am grateful for the expertise of the Army Corps of Engineers—our nation’s premier builders—for getting this project to the finish line, as well as to their partners at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Ocean County and the municipalities.”

Smith said the contract calls for dredging and placing 2.1 million cubic yards of sand onto Ocean County beaches. Sand will be dredged from three separate approved borrow areas located offshore of the project area in the Atlantic Ocean. The sand will then be pumped onto the beach and graded into an engineered template, which is designed to reduce damage from coastal storm events.

Most of the base contract work involves widening the beach in eroded areas. In some areas, dunes, beach access paths/crossovers, and sand fencing will be repaired. Dune grass will be planted in areas that undergo repairs, he said.

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