Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) is encouraging the Army Corps of Engineers to move fast on its new plan for beach protection projects along the East Coast.
The New Jersey Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet Shore Protection project was included in the plan, issued by the ACOE on Thursday, that outlines the East Coast beach protection projects it plans on constructing with Hurricane Sandy funding.
The plan was commissioned by the Hurricane Sandy recovery legislation that passed out of the House on January 15.
The ACOE estimates the cost of the projects to be $85 million.
“I am pleased that the Army Corps understood how badly towns like Seaside Heights, Mantoloking, Lavallette and Normandy Beach need this project constructed to prevent damage from potential future storms,” Runyan said. “We have no time to waste and I urge the ACOE to get to work on construction as soon as possible as these towns represent some of the most at risk areas on the entire New Jersey shoreline.”
Runyan wrote the mayors of several towns impacted by Hurricane Sandy in March. The letters encouraged them to work with homeowners to quickly acquire the necessary easements so that construction on the projects can begin as soon as possible.