The Avalon Department of Public Works is re-opening some beach paths in Avalon’s north end in advance of Memorial Day weekend. Throughout the winter and spring, beach paths from 10th-17th streets, and 23rd-25th streets have been closed due to severe beach erosion. Public Works Director Bill Macomber reports that beach paths from 16th Street south to 25th Street, with the exception of 23rd Street, will be open in advance of the holiday weekend as safe access to the beaches at these streets will be constructed. Beach paths are still expected to be closed from 11th Street south to 15th Street due to severe erosion. These paths are closed, and the public is encouraged to access a safe, open beach path to the north or south of this area.
The Borough of Avalon has closed select beach paths due to public safety concerns in advance of a major beach fill project that is scheduled to begin in June. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Illinois has been contracted to hydraulically pump 700,000 cubic yards of sand from 8th Street south to the border of 25th-26th streets. This project will proceed 24 hours a day, seven days a week once the pumping of sand onto the beach front begins and will only stop due to unsafe weather conditions or mechanical issues.
The Avalon Beach Patrol will be staffed for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Protected beaches in Avalon include 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th, 32nd, 35th, 38th, 40th, 43rd, 50th, 57th, 61st, 65th, 69th, 73rd, 76th, and 79th street beaches. During low tide, the Beach Patrol may be able to move extra lifeguard stands to the 12th and 15th street beaches this weekend; however, beach paths at those streets will remain closed to the public. The Avalon Beach Patrol encourages all residents and visitors to only swim immediately in front of a guarded lifeguard stand for safety purposes. Ocean water temperatures this week are averaging in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees.
Starting on Saturday, May 23rd, beach tags will be required for beach goers in Avalon. Beach tags must be worn by all individuals using the beach 12 years or older from 10am-5pm from May 23rd through September 6th. Preseason beach tags may be purchased on or before May 31st at the Beach Tag Booth at 30th Street and the beach, or from any beach tag checker. Pre-season beach tags are $22 for the season, $12 per week, and $6 per day. Recioprocity of beach tags is observed between Avalon and Stone Harbor. Avalon is proud to offer free beach tags to all veterans of the United States Armed Forces, as well to all active military members and their immediate families.
Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the upcoming beach fill project in Avalon:
FAQ’s Regarding Avalon’s Upcoming Beach Fill Project
The Borough of Avalon will be having a major beach fill project in the north end of our community. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was awarded a $6.3 million contract for the beach fill, which is tentatively scheduled to begin on or about June 9th, and by contract, must be completed by June 29th. The dredge “Illinois” will be used for the Avalon beach fill project; it is currently peforming work of an emergent nature in our neighboring community of Strathmere, Upper Township.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Avalon beach fill project:
Where will the beach fill take place? Sand will by hydraulically dredged from Townsend’s Inlet between Avalon and Sea Isle City and placed on the beach between 8th Street and south to the border of 25th-26th streets. Approximately 700,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed on the beaches.
Why do communities like Avalon do beach fills? Two primary and equally important reasons. First, the beaches and dunes provide the first defense against any large storm event and provide Avalon with a high level of protection. Second, the beaches provide a big recreational benefit for our entire community. Beach fills provide resiliency for our community which, in part, helps Avalon maintain an AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s, and a 25% discount on flood insurance rates, along with a ratable base of $7.3 billion.
Is this a good time for Avalon to receive a beach fill? Yes, especially for the protection benefit. The beach fill will take place at the very beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season and will provide the Borough with a high level of resiliency shall a major Atlantic storm arrive during the summer or fall. A reminder, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey in late October, 2012.
Will the beach fill operate 24 hours a day? Yes, once the beach fill begins it is a continuous operation. Hydraulic beach fills only stop for a mechanical failure/safety issue, or due to a storm that would put the dredge at risk being in the inlet.
Which beaches are nourished first? Just like other beach fill projects in Avalon the beach fill will begin at the 8th Street Jetty and move south along the beachfront. The beach fill will conclude at 26th Street at the end of the project. As beaches are filled in, the contractor adds more pipe to pump the slurry (sand and water) onto a beach while mechanical equipment spreads the sand for a protective beach.
Will all of the beaches be closed? Absolutely not. About two blocks of beach directly to the north and south of where the work is being done will be closed, with all other beaches in the Borough being open. As the project moves south, beaches that had been closed for the beach fill will be reopened with a safe crossover of the dredge pipe for the public to enjoy the beach. At all times, all other beaches in the Borough will remain open.
Will I be able to get up close to the beach fill as it occurs? No. Safety crews will be on site 24 hours a day to prevent the public from accessing the immediate area where the beach is being filled. The Borough of Avalon respectfully asks that you refrain from attempting to access a beach path that is closed for safety. Kindly go a block or two to the north and south of the beach fill work to access an open beach. Remember, Avalon offers free parking adjacent to the beach and our beach tag booth at 30th Street where you can park your car and enjoy the beach.
What will the impact be on the neighborhood adjacent to where the beach fill takes place? All temporary lights will be shined away from homes during the overnight hours to provide lighting on the beach at night. The dredge is in the inlet so noise from the dredge not be heard onshore. Noise on the beach will include the heavy equipment that is spreading the sand on the beach on the block that is being worked on, along with light noise from the slurry moving through the pipe. On average, a beach fill moves at a rate of about one block per day with no interruptions.
Are beach fill schedules absolute? No. As mentioned above, there are factors that can temporarily halt a project including bad weather or mechanical failure/safety issues. The Borough will continue to provide updates on this activity and schedules when they become available.
There are already beach paths closed in the north end. Will they reopen? Yes, these beach paths will reopen once the beach in front of them has new sand and it is graded out by the mechanical equipment. As of May 5th, beach paths from 10th-17th streets, and 23rd-25th streets are closed due to safety issues largely caused by large cliffs of sand from severe erosion. In advance of Memorial Day weekend, the Avalon Department of Public Works will evaluate these beach paths to see if sand can be temporarily moved to create safe access to the beach. If that is impossible, the beach path will remain closed until the beach fill occurs on that specific block.
This will be Avalon’s first hydraulic beach fill project since March, 2013 following Hurricane Sandy. Updates on the beach fill project will be provided on Avalon’s official website, www.avalonboro.net; on the Borough of Avalon’s Facebook page; on ShoreTV Comcast Channel 97 (Avalon/Stone Harbor/Sea Isle City), and other media outlets.