The Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management Project was authorized by Congress in 1999. The project includes the construction of a dune and berm system with a 3-year nourishment cycle (pending available funding) and 2.2 miles of seawall along the Townsends Inlet frontage of Avalon and the Hereford Inlet frontage of North Wildwood. The design calls for a 150 foot berm (or beach) backed by a dune constructed to elevation +14.75 (North American Vertical Datum of 1988). The beachfill portion of the project was initially constructed in 2002. The Townsends Inlet seawall was completed in 2006. The Hereford Inlet seawall was constructed in 2 phases with the Phase 1 completed in 2007 and Phase 2 completed in 2010. The dune and beachfill project was renourished/repaired in 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2019. The Hereford Seawall was repaired in 2014 and 2020-2021.

The project is designed to reduce the risk of damages to infrastructure from coastal storm events.

The dune and beachfill portion of the Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet project was initially constructed in 2002 and has been subsequently nourished and repaired. Periodic nourishment is estimated to begin in September 2026. Work will begin first in Avalon (pipe landing will be made at/near 9th Avenue). Work will progress to Stone Harbor (pipe landing will be made near 121st Street). 

The Townsends Inlet seawall portion of the project was completed in 2006. The Hereford Inlet seawall was constructed in 2 phases with the Phase 1 completed in 2007 and Phase 2 completed in 2010. Repair work along the Hereford Inlet (Anglesea) seawall began in 2020 and finished in 2021.

The project is designed to reduce the risk of damages to infrastructure from coastal storm events.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Philadelphia District and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with local boroughs, will soon begin beach nourishment activities to mitigate against future storm damage.

The upcoming construction schedule, beach access details, and public safety guidelines are outlined below.

Project Schedule & Phasing

To minimize local disruptions, the project will be executed in multiple stages:

Public Access, Safety, & Beach Closures

Our top priority is public safety. Please review the following operating guidelines prior to visiting the beach:

• Staging & Mobilization: The first heavy equipment to arrive in Avalon will access the beach at 20th Street and move north for staging near the jetty at 9th Street. Expect intermittent closures of the 20th Street beach access and minor disruptions to recreational beach activities as trucks move equipment.
• Rolling Beach Closures: Once pumping operations begin on September 5, the beach will be closed in active 1,000-foot segments to ensure public safety. These temporary safety zones move down the beach as work progresses.
• Map Updates: USACE will update a progress map approximately 2–3 times per week showing active and upcoming beach closures.
• Keep Out of Active Zones: For your safety, do not bypass safety fencing, barricades, or yellow caution tape. Stay clear of all heavy machinery, pipeline landfalls, and slurry discharge areas.

 Additional Information

• 24/7 Operations: Standard USACE dredging and beach nourishment projects operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Sand Ramps for Beach Access: Sand ramps will be built over the shoreline pipelines at regular intervals (usually every street end). These ramps allow access to the water outside of the active 1,000-foot closed zone.
• What to Expect (The Slurry Process): Sand that is pumped onto the beach as a slurry (a mixture of sand and water). It initially appears very dark or muddy. This is normal, and the sand will quickly dry and bleach to its natural color under the sun.