Beach replenishment from southern Deal to Loch Arbour begins

At a press conference in Allenhurst on Friday, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. kicked off the start of a federally funded beach replenishment project covering the area stretching from Philips Avenue in southern Deal to Loch Arbour.
The funding for this project is entirely federal and is part of the Sandy aid package.

“We fought hard in Congress for the Sandy relief funding New Jersey deserves,” said Congressman Pallone. “Beaches are a fundamental part of life here on the shore, both for residents and our tourist economy. I will continue to fight for replenishment projects to help protect homes and businesses along the Jersey Shore from future flooding and to repair the destruction caused by Sandy.”

The replenishment project will cover the placement of 1,400,000 cubic yards of sand for reconstruction of the shoreline from Deal to Loch Arbour. It also includes lengthening six existing stormwater outfalls, as well as modification of two existing groins (also known as jetties).

A contract award for the second half of the overall project, which includes beach replenishment from Philips Ave in Deal north to Lake Takanassee in Elberon, will be awarded later this year.

Originally, the Army Corps had planned to notch six jetties between Elberon and Loch Arbour. However, after meeting with Congressman Pallone and concerned citizens, including fishermen, surfers and recreational users in the area, the Army Corps agreed to only notch three groins within the project area. One at Deal Casino and the other at Marine Place, will be notched as a part of the southern Deal to Loch Arbour contract, and a third at Phillips Avenue will be notched under the forthcoming contract that will cover Elberon to northern Deal.

The Army Corps is also working with the Deal Lake Commission to finalize plans to install an electronic gate in the Deal Lake Flume to allow the outfall to be cleared efficiently if it were to become blocked by sand, an issue which was also discussed at last year’s meeting.

Earlier this year, the Army Corps awarded the contract for the $38,283,230 project to Manson Construction Company.

Congressman Pallone was joined at the site by Colonel Paul Owen, Commander of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers, Commissioner Bob Martin of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Mayor Paul Fernicola of Loch Arbour, and Mayor David McLaughlin of Allenhurst.