Historic storm damage

Absecon Island
Shore Protection Project

What & Where:

• Construct an approximate $63 million beach and dune system along the 8.1 mile oceanfront of Absecon Island that includes, the cities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport.

• Phase I: Atlantic City and Ventnor

• Phase II: Margate and Longport

Why:

• As authorized by Congress in WRDA 96, to reduce coastal storm damages to the billions of dollars of infrastructure (homes, businesses, boardwalk, streets) that are on Absecon Island.

How:

• Atlantic City:

  • Construct a 200-foot wide beach with dune (2-3 feet above boardwalk)

  • Initial beachfill volume is approximately 3.2 million cubic yards

  • Construct outfall extensions

  • Absecon Inlet – 2 bulkheads with revetment (total 1600 ft.)

• Ventnor:

  • Construct a 100-foot wide beach with dune (1 foot above boardwalk).

  • Initial beachfill volume is approximately 1.3 million cubic yards

• Margate:

  • Construct a 100-foot wide beach with dune (2-2.5 feet above bulkheads).

  • Initial sand volume will be determined just prior to construction

• Longport:

  • Construct a 100-foot wide beach with dune (2-2.5 feet above bulkheads).

  • Initial sand volume will be determined just prior to construction

• Approximately 1.7 million cubic yards of sand will be utilized for periodic nourishment every 3 years for the 50-year project life

• Sand source is a borrow area in Absecon Inlet

• Approximately 90 acres of dune grass and 64,000 feet of sand fence will be placed in the four communities

When:

• Winning bid for construction was received from Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. in September 2003 for construction of Phase I.

• Phase I officially began October 22, 2003 when the Notice to Proceed was issued to Great Lakes.

• Sand placement in Atlantic City began December 25, 2003 and is scheduled to conclude in March 2004.

• Crossovers, sand fencing, planting of dune grass and outfall extensions will be completed in May 2004 in Atlantic City.

• Construction will proceed from the northeast end of Atlantic City southwest through Ventnor.

• Sand placement in Ventnor is scheduled to begin in March 2004 and conclude in May 2004.

• Construction of crossovers and sand fencing will be completed in June 2004 in Ventnor. Dune grass planting will be completed by December 2004 due to November-April planting “window”.
   

Who Will Do It:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will manage construction using dredging companies to construct the beach and dunes and provide 65 percent of the funding needed for construction and the subsequent beach nourishment.

• As the non-Federal sponsor, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is responsible for providing 35 percent of the funding needed for construction and beach nourishment. Local municipalities will contribute 25% of the non-Federal sponsor’s share.

• NJDEP is responsible for coordinating local issues within the communities of Atlantic City and Ventnor, as well as Margate and Longport.
   

Atlantic City	Margate
Ventnor	Longport

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