News Stories

Construction Begins on Phase 2 of the Port Monmouth Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District
Published Nov. 10, 2016
Col. David A. Caldwell, commander, USACE New York District (left), Rep. Frank Pallone (center), and Bob Martin, commissioner, NJDEP (right), discuss plans for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J.

Col. David A. Caldwell, commander, USACE New York District (left), Rep. Frank Pallone (center), and Bob Martin, commissioner, NJDEP (right), discuss plans for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J.

Col. David A. Caldwell, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District (center), Rep. Frank Pallone (right), Bob Martin, commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Stephanie Murray, committeewoman, Port Monmouth, New Jersey, host groundbreaking remark ceremony for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J., October 21, 2016.

Col. David A. Caldwell, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District (center), Rep. Frank Pallone (right), Bob Martin, commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Stephanie Murray, committeewoman, Port Monmouth, New Jersey, host groundbreaking remark ceremony for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J., October 21, 2016.

David Gentile, project manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, talked with reporters about the boundaries for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J.

David Gentile, project manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, talked with reporters about the boundaries for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, Commander, Col. David A. Caldwell, along with Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martin, and Middletown Mayor, Gerard Scharfenberger, recently announced the groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project in Port Monmouth, located in Middletown, N.J.

Army Corps personnel worked diligently to award the $13.7 million contract to construct a 2,661 linear foot floodwall, a 40ft. x 8ft. road closure gate and interior drainage as part of Phase 2, which features a series of construction contracts to implement a system of levees, floodwalls, a tide gate, road closure structures, road raising and pump stations, to help reduce flood damage in the community of Port Monmouth that has historically suffered from extensive flooding and shoreline erosion.

“All along the Bayshore, flooding has become an increasingly common as severe storms have become more frequent and residential and commercial development has increased,” said Rep. Pallone. “That’s why I’m pleased to see this project moving forward with the funds we worked to secure after Sandy. I will continue to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and NJDEP to ensure that Phase 2 is completed on budget and in a timely manner.”

The purpose of the project is to reduce storm and induced tidal flooding. The floodwall will essentially be built along Port Monmouth Road beginning west of the pier extension and concluding prior to the overpass at Pews Creek. The closure gate will be placed on Old Port Monmouth Road to help mitigate coastal flooding and will remain open during normal weather conditions and will be closed during major tidal inundation or storm event.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is thrilled to have reached this significant milestone in the groundbreaking of Phase 2 for the Port Monmouth Coastal Strom Risk Reduction Project,” said Col. Caldwell.

“During this past Hurricane season we haven’t been directly impacted, and I believe the other weather events that took place in other parts of the country reemphasize the need to continue increasing the resiliency of our towns and communities with robust flood risk reduction projects like those currently underway in Port Monmouth. This brings us one step closer to that goal.”

This contract is part of an overall Port Monmouth Flood Risk Management Project at an estimated $105 million, which still has three more additional construction contracts to be awarded.

“Today marks an important milestone for this critical project, which will ultimately see floodwalls, levees, a tide gate, road closure structures and pump stations throughout Port Monmouth,” said Commissioner Martin. “The Port Monmouth Coastal Strom Risk Reduction project will provide protection to low-lying residential and commercial structures. It marks another key component in the Christie Administration’s plan to bring greater resiliency to coastal and flood-prone areas of the state.”

Nearly four years ago when Hurricane Sandy made land fall devastating the coastline of New Jersey causing millions of dollars in damages, it also left 750 homes damaged in the township section of Port Monmouth. The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 under Public Law P.L. 113-2 identified Port Monmouth Flood Risk Management Project for 100% federal funding.

“The start of the Port Monmouth Flood control Project’s second phase is a welcome sight since it means we’re another step closer to recovery after Superstorm Sandy,” said Mayor Scharfenberger. “Port Monmouth homeowners and businesses will be safer in the future thanks to the flood control measures that are being constructed. The Army Corps of Engineers has been doing a great job and we are looking forward to seeing the project completed.”

Construction of Phase 1 was completed in July 2015 which included a beach nourishment of an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of sand, a vegetated dune complex, dune restoration, groin work, extension of the fishing pier, and construction of protective dunes. As construction commence for Phase 2 of the Port Monmouth Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, estimates the project will be completed by 2020.