LBI Beach Replenishment Project Ahead of Schedule

Beachgoers on two streets in Surf City were greeted with less room on the sand this week – but the reward will be a lot more beach in the near future.

Crews roped off a portion of the beach between North 4th and North 5th streets on Tuesday, the first sign that the beach replenishment project which will cover three island communities – Harvey Cedars, Surf City and the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township – is ahead of schedule.

The work in Surf City was supposed to begin in mid-to-late August, but officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said its contractor, the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Oak Brook, Il., has been moving faster than expected on the project as a whole.

"Great Lakes has been progressing quicker than expected at both Harvey Cedars and Brant Beach and is now moving up the schedule for work on Surf City," said Stephen Rochette, spokesman for the Army Corps' Philadelphia district.

The Surf City work began Thursday, said Councilman Peter Hartney. The southern end of the borough will get sand first, then the middle and northern portions. About 500 feet of beach will be restored each day, he said.

The work in Surf City is set to last about two weeks, Rochette said.

Surf City Council Peter Hartney said when the project first began that crews will shut down about 1,000 feet of beach – or two or three blocks – at a time so work can be performed, then reopen those beaches and move to a new area.

An aerial photo provided by the Corps' to Patch shows the significant amount of sand that has been added to beaches in Brant Beach.

The $30.6 million replenishment project is aimed at restoring beaches damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Because residents in the three communities signed easements and had their beaches replenished in the past, they are entitled to repairs under a 50-year maintenance plan, officials have said.