MANASQUAN, NJ — A long-delayed beach replenishment from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet is scheduled to begin Monday, announced Congressman Chris Smith (R-Manchester).

This is a project that will improve Ocean County beaches. Sand will be dredged from three separate areas offshore, and then 2.1 million cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto the following Ocean County beaches, listed below.

The sand put on the beaches will be graded into an engineered template, which is designed to reduce damage from coastal storm events. Beaches will also be widened 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.

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

Despite earlier sign-off 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.

Smith represents this area and helped secure $30 million in federal funding for the beach replenishment. In total, the beach replenishment will cost $73.5 million, so the $30 million in federal funds are significant.

After overcoming the initial funding hurdle, the project then had to overcome several contracting delays, said Congressman Smith. He joined with local mayors, county and state officials and in October 2024, the Army Corps awarded the contract for the ocean dredging and sand distribution to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company.