Gov. Chris Christie came to Sea Bright last week to announce that the state would spend $8.5 million in shore protection funds to create a continuous seawall that will extend the length of the borough.
“I am proud to announce today that the state of New Jersey is committed to an $8.5 million project here in Sea Bright that will extend the seawall to protect the borough’s downtown area,” Christie said at an Aug. 28 press conference. Christie said the wall extension would stretch 600 feet from East Surf Street to River Street, effectively providing a continuous barrier along the public beach access area behind the municipal parking lot located on Ocean Avenue.
Along with the addition of the new section of seawall, Christie said repairs would be made to the existing seawall, which runs from East Surf Street to East Church Street.
“We’re also working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on further seawall repairs in the northern section of the seawall for about 1,200 feet; the filling of an existing 20-foot gap at the Tradewinds section; and the 275-foot bulkhead of the Anchorage parking lot, which is being acquired by the borough through Green Acres,” Christie said.
Mayor Dina Long and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin accompanied the governor.
Christie said he hopes that work will begin by spring 2015 after the project goes out to bid later this year. The DEP will be in charge of the project.
Long described the borough’s recovery from the destruction of the Oct. 29, 2012, superstorm, during which a “freight train of water” had barreled through the town.
“Though we are almost two years from Sandy, the recovery work, rebuilding lives, rebuilding homes and rebuilding communities is far from over,” she said. “In Sea Bright, we are so very grateful to all the partners that have made our post-Sandy experience a story of hope and a story of resilience.”
FEMA announced on June 27 that the agency would provide $2.98 million in Sandy aid funding to the DEP for the first phase of minor repairs to the seawall.
The wall was undermined and scored by the storm surge in several areas.
Repairs to the damaged will include removing sand, installing capstone, sealing the tops of the jetties with concrete grout, and backfilling the area with sand.
Christie said that while man-made structures like the wall can only withstand so much during a natural disaster, precautions should be taken in order to preserve the Sea Bright downtown area from future storms.
“You can never predict what man-made structures can handle,” he said. “Nature is often a very, very difficult opponent in that regard.”
However, Christie said he has hopes that the seawall will be able to withstand another storm.
“That is what we are planning for — for the future,” he said.