Contract For Long Branch Beach Replenishment Work Will Be Awarded in July

Long Branch may not have bigger beaches for this summer, but they will certainly be much larger for the 2014 summer season.

Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D 6) announced today that a contract with Army Corps of Engineers for Long Branch beach replenishment will be awarded in July, with work scheduled to be completed by the beginning of 2014.

The work will be part of the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers and world's biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume.

"Once completed, the greater protective barrier between the coastal communities and the ocean will reduce the risk of flooding and storm related damages," a release from Pallone states.

The Army Corps of Engineers will replenish the beach to original design profile, which will make the beach much wider than it was prior to Sandy, Pallone stated.

The Army Corps will complete the $102 million project through three contracts, in addition to the Long Branch contract. The contract for Sea Bright to Monmouth Beach will be awarded in June, and the other two contracts, Asbury Park to Avon and Belmar to Manasquan, will be awarded in July.

Long Branch officials have said work to repair the city's damaged bluffs and boardwalk will not start until the city's beaches are replenished.

If the sand replenishment is finished as stated by Pallone, there is a chance the bluffs and boardwalk could be completed for the start of next year's summer season.