Beach replenishment and downtown flood mitigation project coming to Sea Bright
The borough is looking at new bulkheads, pump stations and other upgrades, while a separate beach replenishment project is expected to begin this fall.
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As forecasters are keeping their eyes on a potential coastal storm combining with a full moon later this week, Sea Bright is moving ahead with a multi-million-dollar plan to tackle chronic flooding as the shoreline also continues to erode.
The borough is looking at new bulkheads, pump stations and other upgrades, while a separate beach replenishment project is expected to begin this fall.
Just north of Ships Ahoy Beach Club along Route 36 in Sea Bright, there is no beach, and it seems to have gotten worse since News 12 last visited this problem spot in early April.
"The Army Corps says they're going to begin pumping sand this fall," said Rep. Frank Pallone.
Pallone says it's getting more difficult to secure federal funding for projects like beach replenishment. The alternative is expensive infrastructure repairs.
"It's like a 2-to-1 cost-benefit analysis that says you don't do this and come in and make all the repairs that come from the destruction. That it makes sense to spend the money," said the congressman.
Most of Sea Bright's issues come from the Shrewsbury River. Last week, council moved forward to secure a bond to pay for a massive downtown project – including 1750 feet of higher bulkhead, new check valves to keep water from flowing out of storm drains, and new pump stations. The total cost to taxpayers would be up to $2.5 million, paid for by a bond.
"We know that we're going to get water, get flooding here. Get flooding up in the Highlands," said Kim Goione, of Highlands.
The downtown project won't stop the next Superstorm Sandy but will eliminate nuisance flood events, according to Sea Bright Councilman Erwin Bieber. Minor to moderate flooding often closes roads and businesses.
"They're disruptive but I think a lot of people here are resilient. I think they know what to do. We've been down this road before and they'll be ready. This town took a hit," added Goione.
Councilman Bieber says neighbors could still file a petition to stop the bond, and the entire project would then be subject to a referendum vote. A petition would have to be submitted within the next two weeks. In the meantime, forecasters will track signs of trouble lurking offshore later this week.
