More than 100,000 cubic yards of sand has been pumped onto Manasquan beaches as a major replenishment project continues north up the coast, official said.
About 106,000 cubic yards of sand has been pumped onto Manasquan beaches since the Army Corps of Engineers began its $25 million replenishment project designed to bolster beaches battered by Superstorm Sandy and gird against future flooding, Manasquan Borough Council members said at the governing body’s regular meeting Monday.
About 7 percent of the total project has been completed, Councilman Joseph Bossone said. The around-the-clock operation that will dump 8 million cubic yards of sand from Manasquan to Belmar, bringing beaches back to 1997 levels, began in early November.
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U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith, who along with other members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation helped secure funding for the project.
“This will bring us back and I hope will bring us back for a very, very long time,’’ Smith has said.
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The project is expected to set beach sands from Belmar to Manasquan at 1997 levels, restoring 16 years of erosion that aided the floodwaters from Superstorm Sandy to reach inland, Smith said.
Hurricane Sandy ripped bout 5 million cubic yards of sand from the coast between Sea Bright and Manasquan. The corps plans to replace that with about 8 million cubic yards, officials said.
Once the 24-hour replenishment operation begins dredging sand, portions of the beach will be closed in 1,000-foot sections and the corps moves north up the beach.
Operations are expected to begin in Sea Girt after the December completion of work in Manasquan, according to the corps.
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