Brick will move ahead with previously-planned bulkhead improvements, as well as improvements and repairs to Bayview Park on the barrier island.

The township council recently authorized the awarding of two contracts – one for general bulkhead improvements on various township street ends, and another for the Bayview Park project – at meeting of the governing body.

The council awarded a $113,965 contract to Diamond Construction of Brick to complete the general bulkhead repair contract, which will encompass several streets including St. Lawrence Boulevard, Squan Beach Drive, Toronto Drive and Bella Vista Road, as well as Windward Beach.

It is not expected that the effects of Superstorm Sandy caused any additional damage to the bulkheads covered under the project.

"These bulkhead projects here fared very well," said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras, based on an engineer's report. "They're mostly street ends located inside lagoons that had a little more protection."

The council also awarded a $224,680 contract to R. Kremer & Son Marine Contractors, of Brick, to replace the boardwalk and bulkhead and Bayview Park.

The park, located opposite Brick Beach III on Barnegat Bay, has had portions of its scenic boardwalk closed for some time due to a safety hazard created by the deterioration of the bulkhead.

The boardwalk and bulkhead will be replaced with vinyl material this time, after the previous wooden bulkheading deteriorated too quickly, township Business Administrator Scott Pezarras said previously.

The project was originally estimated to cost as much as $600,000.

Pezarras said the township engineer recommended going forward with the project, though some additional bulkheading may have to be replaced due to Sandy.

"It may be a possibility that this project will have a change order, since there could be an additional amount of bulkheading that will have to be put in," Pezarras said, explaining that, in the event of a change order, the cost of the work would be consistent with the original low bid.

The project is expected to go forward as soon as Route 35 is open to public traffic.

Both of the projects were authorized in capital budgets and will not affect the township's operating budget or the funds set aside for the cleanup from Sandy.