Politics & Government

Brick Beaches to Remain Open as Steel Wall is Constructed

Crews will work on 500 foot-long stretches at a time so beaches can stay open

Brick's public beaches will remain open as construction crews install a steel wall along the oceanfront in both Brick Township and Mantoloking.

The project, which is scheduled to begin June 23 and last into September, will be completed in 500 foot-long parcels, Brick Mayor John Ducey said.

That means that on a given day, just 500 feet of beachfront will be off limits and surrounding beaches will remain open.

"It’s going to take two and a half days to complete the 500 feet," said Ducey. "So there is going to be a time when each beach will be closed."

But as a whole, there will always be a public beach for residents to use. On a day when Beach 1 is closed, for example, Beaches 2 and 3 will remain open.

Though the beaches will be open, there will be fewer available parking spaces than usual. Half of Beach 3's parking lot will be used as a staging area for the entire project, the mayor said, and the Bayview Park parking lot will also be used by equipment related to the project.

The $23.8 million project includes the installation of a steel wall 30 feet into the ground and 15 feet above ground that will eventually be covered by engineered dunes. The steel revetment, officials have said, will serve as a last resort during powerful storms to prevent breaches on the barrier island such as the one which occurred in Mantoloking during Superstorm Sandy.

The project is being funded by the Federal Highway Administration since one of the main goals of the project is to protect Route 35.


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