Update & Status
Following Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District received funding and approval to restore the Absecon Island Coastal Storm Risk Reduction project to its initial design level. Work will involve pumping 2 million cubic yards of sand onto the oceanfront beaches of Atlantic City and Ventnor City as well as subsequent work on dune crossovers, sand fencing and dune grass planting. Work will take place in the summer of 2013. Closure maps and updates will be posted to the Philadelphia District's Coastal Program Website.
Project Background
The Absecon Island project, often called the Atlantic City and Ventnor beach nourishment or beachfill, is designed to reduce storm damages to homes and infrastructure from the waves, high tides and storm surges associated with these events. The communities along the New Jersey shoreline have suffered significant storm damages from nor’easters and hurricanes and are at risk to suffer further damages from coastal storms. Atlantic City and Ventnor City are important and economically vital coastal communities that serves as a national destination for tourism and recreation. The health and productivity of a coastal community and its beachfront are linked. This project will not only act to reduce the damages to the oceanfront infrastructure, but will protect the island from devastating erosion and damage. In turn, this will help the communities continue to thrive as a destination for beach patrons, surfers, fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts.
Project Authority
Construction of the Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet, Absecon Island New Jersey Storm Damage Reduction Project, is authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. A Project Cooperation Agreement to construct the project was signed July 2003 with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.