Flood Control Projects for Port Monmouth, Keansburg Could be Coming Soon

The low-lying residential and commercial areas in the Port Monmouth could be protected from flood through levees, floodwalls, dunes and beach renourishment as part of an upcoming large-scale beach replenishment project, according to Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06).

Also addressed will be Keansburg's damaged 40-year old floodgates and beach replenishment from Sandy Hook to the Barnegat Inlet.

Pallone announced Tuesday that the Monmouth County projects are the first of several initial large-scale projects he expects to be completed to restore damage to the Jersey Shore caused by Superstorm Sandy, according to his analysis of the provisions of the Sandy relief package passed by Congress in January.

“I have fought for these projects for years because I know how important they are to protect some of our most fragile waterway infrastructure,” said Pallone, in a release.  “Sadly, Sandy made some of the areas already in need of work go from bad to worse.  Now, the work that must be done will not only help us rebuild from the storm, but will make improvements that we have needed for years.”

The plans in the Bayshore would include the construction of nearly 7,070 feet of levees, 3,585 feet of floodwalls and 2,640 feet of dune and beach renourishment, which has been previously estimate to cost upwards of $90 million.  The project would offer significant protection to the area, which has suffered frequent flooding, erosion and damage from rain and coastal storms.

Additionally, Pallone noted that the levees, pump station, floodwall and closure gates in Keansburg that have sustained damage since their construction over four decades ago will be repaired.  These structures and flood control systems have suffered serious damage and Pallone expects that the project will likely cost over $50 million to prevent potential future flooding. 

The beach replenishment project would cover 21 miles of beaches from Sandy Hook to the Barnegat Inlet, and would be the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers and the world’s biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume.

However, specific beaches that will be included in the project have not been finalized at this time, but the areas chosen will include those that suffered the most damage from Sandy.

"I want to try to get Long Branch and the other towns I represent as much beach replenishment as possible," Pallone told Long Branch-Eatontown Patch last month.

Long Branch's beaches from Cedar Avenue to Pier Village were last replenished several years ago, Pallone has said.

"The planned work would not only restore the region to pre-storm conditions, but would make massive improvements totaling well in excess of $100 million to replenish beaches and prevent future erosion damage," the release states.

“The Jersey Shore is a treasure of our state,” Pallone said in the release.  “The shore sustained such severe damage from Sandy, which if unaddressed, would continue to wash away our beaches and make much of the region uninhabitable.  That’s why I have been insistent that restoring our coast, beaches and waterways must be a top priority for the funding from the Sandy relief package.”