Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) announced today that after a series of meetings and discussions with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leadership that spanned more than two years, the Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be repairing or replacing old, inadequate safety fencing along the entire perimeter of the Point Pleasant Canal in Point Pleasant Borough.

“I alerted the Army Corps to the deteriorating conditions of the fence after hearing from residents and elected officials in Point Pleasant,” Smith said. “Safety is everyone’s number one concern, so I reached out to the Army Corps to ask for its quickest possible response.”

As a result, inspections were completed last year, and emergency repairs were made immediately. A work plan was then developed thanks to the USACE decision to allocate $3 million to fund more extensive improvements.

During this process, the Army Corps has continued to perform repairs to the areas of greatest need, with crews working as recently as last week. The larger renovation and replacement project will now be put out to bid, and the installation is expected to be done next summer.

“The Canal is vital as it connects Monmouth and Ocean County boaters to open waters, but as locals know, it is infamous for its swift and dangerous currents. We need to ensure that families can fish along the waterway and enjoy this engineering marvel while staying safely on land,” Rep. Smith added.

Mayor Robert Sabosik said the work efforts are welcomed improvements for the borough.

 “We have been trying to get the Army Corps to repair this fence-line for years now in its entirety and not just in a few pieces like they’ve done over the years.  If it wasn’t for Congressman Smith working with us on this project, the federal funding to get this done probably wouldn’t have happened. This fence-line isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about the safety of our residents who fish and enjoy the scenic views the canal offers. Congressman Smith has been instrumental in the re-vitalization of the Point Pleasant Canal from getting funding to repair the actual bulkhead a few years ago and finishing the job with the fence-line.  Chris Smith always comes through for our district and we couldn’t be happier to have him represent us in Congress.”

The fencing work comes as the Army Corps has just completed significant repairs to the entrance to the canal from the Manasquan River, making the canal walls more resilient and up to current design standards. In 2022, Congressman Smith secured the $3.2 million in federal funding for that project which repaired portions of the bulkhead that had suffered the most significant damage over the years.

Smith thanked the USACE for taking steps to remedy an unsafe situation in the community.

“I am grateful to our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers—our country’s master builders. Their work is second to none, and the Philadelphia District is always eager to help us help constituents,” Smith said.

First opened to navigation in 1926, the Point Pleasant Canal is a roughly 2-mile-long, man-made channel that connects the Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan River, and it forms a segment of the inland Intracoastal Waterway.

###

Contact:
Jeff Sagnip (202) 225-3765
http://chrissmith.house.gov