Long Branch Boardwalk Likely To Not Be Repaired In Time For Summer

Long Branch's boardwalk south of Pier Village is one of the areas of the city that was hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy last month.

Huge sections of the boardwalk were washed away and others were severely damaged.

"The most visible damage was to the boardwalk," Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said in a recent interview.

Mayor Schneider said the city surveyed all damage done in the area with photos and video and will be putting in claims to FEMA to help pay for repairs.

"I think the biggest number will be the boardwalk," he said. "We are experienced with FEMA and we will definitely be putting in claims."

Mayor Schneider said the fixing the boardwalk is a "priority," but that he would be surprised if it could be fixed in time for Memorial Day and the start of the summer season.

"My commitment is that we will be ready for the summer season, but that doesn't mean that everything we had last year will be ready," he said. "We will definitely still have the concerts, the beaches and the Fourth of July celebration."

He said decisions must be made as to how much of the boardwalk will be replaced and what will replace it.

"We have to come up with a plan for the boardwalk, but we also don't know how much we will get from FEMA and when we will get it."

He said getting design specs, going through the bidding process and rebuilding the boardwalk could be a lenghty process and probably not one that could be done in time for summer.