Philadelphia District & Marine Design Center > Missions > Civil Works

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Project Photos

Hurricane Sandy breached the Barnegat Peninsula in October of 2012. In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the dune and berm system in the same location. Work is designed to reduce the risk of damages from future coastal storms.

The Shallow Draft Dredge MURDEN clears shoaling from Barnegat Inlet, N.J. in April of 2014. The vessel was designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Marine Design Center in Philadelphia and is based out of Wilmington, N.C. Barnegat Inlet requires dredging to provide reliable maritime navigation for the U.S. Coast Guard and a large fishing fleet consisting of full-time commercial, charter and recreational vessels.

In 2017, USACE completed periodic nourishment of the Cape May to Lower Township project (Photo from February of 2017).

Gurney Avenue Before and After - initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm was completed in 1991 as part of the Cape May to Lower Township project. Cape May City beaches were often in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and periodic nourishments in subsequent years.

Before & After at Baltimore Avenue - USACE completed initial construction of an elevated 25 to 180-foot wide berm at Cape May in 1991. Cape May City beaches were in a severely eroded state prior to the initial construction and subsequent periodic nourishments.

Absecon Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction

Coastal Storm Risk Management Program

The New Jersey Atlantic Ocean coastline extends from Sandy Hook to Cape May, New Jersey, covering a range of approximately 130 miles. The New Jersey coastline from Manasquan Inlet south to Cape May Point lies within the boundaries of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District while from Manasquan Inlet north is under the jurisdiction of the New York District.

Ten federally authorized coastal storm risk management projects have been constructed along the Philadelphia District’s New Jersey coastline (including Oakwood Beach located along the Delaware Bay coastline). The Philadelphia District oversees the entire coastline in the state of Delaware as well. The District has constructed six coastal storm risk management projects along the coastline of Delaware (including Broadkill Beach on the Delaware Bay coastline). These projects typically involve the construction of dune and berm systems and are designed and built to reduce the risk of storm damages to infrastructure. New Jersey and Delaware projects and their respective statuses are listed below.

Project Details

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New Jersey Projects

New Jersey Projects	Design Details	Length	Construction Status	Nourishment Interval
Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet (includes municipalities of Point Pleasant Beach; Bay Head; Mantoloking; Brick Township; Toms River Township; Lavallette; Seaside Heights; Seaside Park; and Berkeley Township)	Main section – dune built to elevation +22 feet with 75 foot berm; northern Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights – dune built to elevation +18 feet with 100 foot berm	14 miles	Initial construction sand placement completed in the summer of 2019. Periodic nourishment estimated to take place in 2024	4 years pending funding
Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet (Long Beach Island, NJ)	Dune built to elevation +22 feet with 125 foot berm	15 miles	Initial construction completed in 2016; repair/renourishment completed in 2018; periodic nourishment expected to take place in 2024	7 years pending funding
Brigantine Island	Dune built to elevation +10 feet with 100 foot berm	1.8 miles	Initial construction completed in 2006; repair/nourishment completed in Spring of 2018; periodic nourishment completed in Fall 2023	6 years pending funding
Absecon Island (includes municipalities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport) (also includes Absecon Inlet Seawall)	Atlantic City - dune built to elevation + 14.75 feet with 100 foot berm Ventnor, Margate, Longport – dune built to elevation 12.75 feet with 200 foot berm	8.1 miles	Initial beachfill construction completed in 2004 in Atlantic City and Ventnor; initial construction (includes Margate drainage system) completed in Margate and Longport in Spring 2019. Absecon Inlet seawall completed in Spring 2018. Periodic nourishment is expected to take place in calendar year 2024-2025	3 years pending funding
Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Peck Beach (Ocean City N. of 34th St.)	100 foot berm	4.5 miles	Initial construction completed in 1992; Periodic nourishment completed in winter 2023.	3 years pending funding
Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet (Ocean City S. of 34th St, Strathmere, Sea Isle City)	Ocean City – dune built to elevation +12.8 feet with 100 foot berm Sea Isle, Strathmere - Dune built to elevation +14.8 feet with 50 foot berm	2.6 miles	Initial construction completed in 2016; periodic nourishment completed in summer 2020 (Combined contract with Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Peck Beach). Periodic nourishment ongoing. Work was completed in southern Ocean City in December of 2023; in Upper Township/Strathmere in January 2024. Works will take place in Sea Isle City in early Spring timeframe.	3 years pending funding
Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet (Avalon & Stone Harbor; also includes seawall construction)	Dune built to elevation +14.75 feet with 150 foot berm	4.3 miles of beachfill; 2.2 miles of seawall)	Beachfill initial construction completed in 2002; seawalls completed in 2009; periodic nourishment completed in fall 2019; Hereford Inlet seawall repairs completed in 2021. Periodic nourishment completed in summer 2023	3 years pending funding
Hereford Inlet to Cape May Inlet (Wildwoods)	Dune built to elevation +16 feet with 75 foot berm	4.5 miles	Project is currently in the design phase. Construction could take place in 2025 depending on ongoing real estate acquisition being done by the State of New Jersey	4 years pending funding
Cape May Inlet to Lower Township (Cape May City)	25-180 foot berm	3.5 miles	Initial construction completed in 1991. Periodic nourishment completed in late December 2023.	2 years pending funding
Lower Cape May Meadows – Cape May Point	Dune built to elevation + 16.7 feet with 20 + foot berm	2.5 miles	Initial construction completed in 2007; periodic nourishment (via truckfill) was completed in fiscal year 2021. Periodic nourishment expected to take place in 2024-2025.	4 years pending funding
Oakwood Beach (Salem County, NJ)	50 foot berm	1.8 miles	Initial construction completed in 2015. Periodic nourishment completed in late January 2024.	8 years pending funding

Delaware Projects

Delaware Projects	Design Details	Length	Construction Status	Nourishment Interval
Broadkill Beach	Design includes 100 foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +16 feet.	2.7 miles	Initial construction completed in 2016	5 years pending funding and executed Project Partnership Agreement
Lewes-Roosevelt Inlet	Design includes a 100-foot berm backed by a dune at elevation +14	1400 feet at north/east end of Lewes	Initial construction completed in 2004. Periodic nourishment completed in January 2024	6 years pending funding
Rehoboth & Dewey	Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +13.2 feet.	2.5 miles	Initial construction completed in 2006. Periodic nourishment completed in late Spring/early Summer 2023.	3 years pending funding
Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass Operation	Provides for operation of the plant for periodic nourishment of a feeder beach.	.66 miles	The plant has the capacity to bypass approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand per year. The State of Delaware is currently working to repair/upgrade the plant.	N/A
Bethany & South Bethany	Design includes 150-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +16 feet.	2 miles	Initial construction completed in 2008. Periodic nourishment completed in summer 2023.	3 years pending funding
Fenwick Island	Design includes 200-foot berm back by a dune at elevation +17.7 feet	1.2 miles	Initial construction completed in 2005; periodic nourishment completed in summer 2023.	4 years pending funding
Port Mahon	Beachfill and ecosystem restoration	1.4 miles	Project was authorized by Congress in 1999, but has not been constructed	7 years pending funding (TBD)

Dune System Animation During Potential Storm Event

Latest News

Army Corps awards contract for Long Beach Island beachfill project

8/12/2024

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has awarded a $54.4 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, Ill. to complete periodic nourishment of the Barnegat...

Army Corps shares update on Indian River Inlet repairs

1/22/2024

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District awarded a contract to Agate Construction Co., Inc. of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. for $5.3 million to repair a portion of bulkhead and to...