Sunday, January 12, 2014. Ocean Grove. By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@ Blogfinger.
Did you ever see those photos of the beaches at Normandy after the landings? Well they were swamped with equipment and personnel. I was reminded of that today when we got a look at the Ocean Grove beach, towards the North End. There were many pieces of equipment already there, including large earthmoving machines and big metal pipes. The work area was marked off, and a security detail was there to make sure that no one enters beyond the markers. This is a safety concern.
The contractor is the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company from Oak Brook, Illinois, one of the wealthiest towns in America. This company has been in business since 1890 and they are the largest dredging company in the country. They are on the NASDQ.
We spoke to one of the security men (above) who said that he works for Great Lakes exclusively. He lives in Middletown. I was about to ask him if I could walk into the middle of things when he chased two beach walkers away. That ended that request. A supervisor rode up in a dune buggy. He told me that they were ready to go as soon as their dredging ship arrived. Just then he spotted a barge out at the horizon. He took a good look and then said, “No, it’s not ours.”
JOLIET (Illinois) BOUND: Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton. The Blues Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center .
From Netpune Township OCEAN GROVE BEACH REPLENISHMENT UPDATE
Great Lakes dredging contractor had some issues with one of the dredges leaving Norfolk and therefore the replenishment operation has not yet started. The dredge left Norfolk on Thursday and is expected Friday the 10th of January.
The work site will be set up and if all goes well beach sand will be pumped on shore starting Saturday.
The work limits have not changed. The first replenishment will start with the line along Surf Avenue. The sand will be pumped 2000 feet to the north and then 2000 feet to the south. The contractor has a contract to pump sand to elevation 9.3 with a tolerance to elevation 10.3. Grade stakes are being sent in the field and will be field check and verified by ACOE. This portion of the project is projected to take 10-14 days. This operation works 24/7. The public is urged to respect the construction site. There will be site safety fencing along the perimeter. No public is allowed in the work zone. Source: Leanne Hoffman, Twp Engineer
They are using engineering blueprints from the last time that we received sand. Their goal is to restore that amount.
Any idea how much beach they are adding?