Long Beach Township set to award contract for Brant Beach beach replenishment - Press of Atlantic City

Rochette said the project calls for 1.2 million cubic yards of sand to be pumped onto beaches from 31st Street south to 57th Street, a 5,000-foot stretch of beachfront.

The beaches here fared better this summer than they did in 2010, when officials had to close beaches in the section due to severe erosion. The township, however, could not collect enough easements from oceanfront homeowners to complete the project along its 12 miles of beachfront.

Rochette said the project's estimated cost is $10 to $25 million. The corps' received $7.6 million to fund the project in the 2011 federal budget, and Rochette said additional funds could be awarded.

The remainder of the funding will come from cost sharing between the state and local government, he said.

Once the contract is awarded, the corps will issue a notice to proceed to the contractor, Rochette said. An exact start date has not been determined. He said the contract for the project could be for 90 days or longer.

Michele Cuff of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce said there are no concerns about the beachfill project disrupting the annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic, which runs from October to December.

"The tournament is held across Long Beach Island on several beaches, so if one small section of beach is closed it won't be a problem," Cuff said.

This will be the third beachfill project on Long Beach Island in the last five years. Surf City completed a $6 million beach replenishment project in 2006-07 and Harvey Cedars had its own project in 2009.

Contact Donna Weaver:

609-226-9198

DWeaver@pressofac.com