Project Summary:
Avalon’s long-awaited Bay Park Marina rehabilitation project has begun. On Friday, September 20th, a preconstruction meeting was held with Fred M. Schiavone Construction, Inc. who was awarded the contract for the project in the amount of $8.68 million. The Malaga, NJ construction company successfully constructed Avalon’s Surfside Park. The project includes components involving resiliency, waterfront accessibility, habitat/nature preservation, and safety. This improvement project includes over $1.1 million in support funding from the Cape May County Open Space Program and has been the subject of numerous public presentations. Professional management is provided by Mott MacDonald engineering, and Taylor Design Group.
A Notice to Proceed will be provided to the contractor on or about September 23, 2024. The project will be done in two phases, with a summer break in 2025. Phase One of the project must be completed on or before May 21, 2025, and Phase Two shall commence no sooner than the September 2, 2025, and be completed by February 21, 2026. Phase One of the project is the largest phase consisting of improvements in the northern end of the facility from just north of 57th Street, including the boat ramp, towards the north at 53rd Street. Construction work will be done Monday through Friday with no work on weekends. No work will be performed from May 22, 2025, through at least September 1, 2025. Some of the specific features include a new boat ramp, new bulkhead, new handicapped-accessible kayak launch, new dockmaster building, new piers, a gazebo, benches, sidewalk, parking lot, and a turtle retention barrier. The Borough is hopeful to receive a federal grant for a living shoreline nature-based resiliency feature on the south side of the project area.
The construction area will be enclosed by a chain-link fence for safety. Pilings will be installed via vibration and not by pile driving. The initial work is expected to be the installation of the turtle retention wall and may be followed by the boat ramp. Construction materials are being ordered by the contractor.
The contractor has pledged to work with the Borough to keep the fall, 2024 boating season as long as possible and the late summer, 2025 kayak season as long as possible. It is possible ample notice may be provided to boat slip holders to remove their boats in advance of the December 1, 2024, deadline, and for kayak berth holders to remove their kayaks before the October 31, 2025, deadline. Avalon’s municipal website will post information as necessary as soon as it becomes available, much like we do with beach fill projects.