Many months after Hurricane Sandy devastated the beaches and towns along the Jersey Shore, hopes are pinned on a massive beach restoration effort that will soon be underway. Through all the heartache and disruption in the storm’s aftermath, officials, businesses townspeople and even tourists have remained optimistic about piecing together a strong comeback in time for the main tourist season. The economic stakes are high as 2012 revenue garnered from tourism totaled $40 billion.
While many know Jersey Shore tourism won’t be exactly where it was in years past, the community has pinned its hopes on a massive beach restoration set to begin in a few weeks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will commence the largest beach restoration project ever attempted along the Jersey Shore. Thanks to $100 million in federal funding, the project will replenish 20-miles of sand stretching from Sea Bright to Manasquan.
“We’ve been saying for years that these beaches needed to be replenished, and more money should have been spent, but it was hard to make the case,” said New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone. “After the storm, there was the understanding that this is severe damage, and we should do this kind of massive project because now the money is available.”
The project will also make the beaches wider than they were before the hurricane, as well as bolstering protection against future storm damage for public roads and utilities, he said.
And even though these efforts will mean The Jersey Shore has more to look forward to in the months to come, it also means that beaches will be closed 1,000 feet at a time as crews work throughout the summer.
“I know some people may suffer because their beach may be closed,” said Pallone. “But we want to get this done as soon as possible because we may have another storm, who knows when? So the sooner we get it done the better.”
This is one of the biggest pushes the federal and local government has made in helping to get Jersey Shore back on its feet. For the first time since the historic storm, both local residents and tourists have a new reason to look forward to a brighter future.