SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor completed construction of a vehicular access in Seaside Heights, NJ where the beach meets the boardwalk at Grant Avenue. The access includes a removable coastal flood barrier, which can be quickly installed prior to a storm. The vehicular access and removable barrier are part of the 14-mile dune and beachfill project along the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County, NJ.
“I’m glad we were able to provide Seaside Heights with an innovative solution that enables the borough to maintain beach access for emergency vehicles and heavy equipment while also ensuring the infrastructure behind it remains protected,” said USACE Project Manager Keith Watson. “This has been a total team effort by our designers, construction team, Weeks Marine, Walters Marine, the product manufacturer AccessRec Inc, and our partners at NJDEP and Seaside Heights.”
The location of the existing vehicular access proved challenging as it was sandwiched between a large amusement pier to the north, the Seaside Heights boardwalk, and another smaller pier immediately to the south. A traditional vehicular access that crosses over the protective dune would not accommodate the specialized large construction vehicles that the pier owner and municipality use at the Grant Avenue access.
The solution? The project team left the current access in place and constructed a flood barrier along the piers, and boardwalk behind the dune and erected the innovative removable flood barrier. The barrier closes off the entrance up to the required design elevation of the project, protecting the boardwalk and businesses behind it.
On April 19, representatives from USACE, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Seaside Heights, contractors Weeks Marine and Walters Marine, and the product manufacturer AccessRec conducted a final inspection and demonstration of the vehicular access and flood barrier.
The removable barrier is made of high-strength composite materials and has a re-curved face to deflect wave energy during severe storms. The curved panels and support posts can be installed and removed in minutes by Seaside Heights public works crews, providing the municipality with the flexibility to manage beach access and storm situations appropriately.
USACE and its contractor Weeks Marine Inc. completed sand placement for the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet (Northern Ocean County) Coastal Storm Risk Management Project in July 2019.