The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received bids for the long awaited beach replenishment project that includes the southern end of Ocean City and all of Ludlam Island, encompassing the entire shorefront of Strathmere and Sea Isle City.
The apparent low bidder was Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois, with a total base bid amount of $57.6 million. The project involves a base bid of 4.2 million cubic yards of sand, of which 2.6 million cubic yards are designated for Ludlam Island. The project also has options for additional sand, if needed, along with reconstruction of the City’s existing storm drain outfall pipes at 82nd and 86th streets.
At the project’s conclusion, the beaches will be approximately 200 to 300 feet wider at high tide in Sea Isle. Significantly, this project places Sea Isle City into the Corps’ 50 year program for beach replenishment. Sea Isle’s inclusion in this program will enhance the long term viability of critical shore protection provided by a healthy beach, with the additional benefit of increased recreational space.
The project is a partnership of the Corps; the State of New Jersey, represented by the Department of Environmental Protection; and the Cities of Sea Isle City, Upper Township, and Ocean City.
In addition to widened beaches, the project includes dune construction, hard packed gravel access paths over each dune, a new stair entrance at the 12th Street beach, and the storm drain improvements to the beach outfalls at 82nd and 86th Streets.
Contract award is anticipated to take place in November, and based on this schedule, beach replenishment work may begin by the end of the year.
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Press Release