Watch Video Update > Approximately 5 blocks of beach in Margate, and 4 blocks in Ventnor, are un-usable and currently fenced off. This is at the border of Ventnor & Margate.
The Army Corp of Engineers forgot their rulers? Instead of the 1,000 ft of beach interruption at a time like they promised, it’s closer to 2,500 ft of heavy, loud construction work and beach shut-downs at a time.
Hobie Cats and Catamaran launch in this area of Ventnor beach, is shut down.
A Consistent Public Safety Hazard. Safety is still compromised in areas surrounding the work areas. Ex: Bulldozers backing into plastic fencing just inches from children and residential properties. (see video)
So far, dune build in Margate is splitting beach in half, rendering back-half of beach disconnected from ocean and surf; no view or easy walking access. This will squeeze beach-goers into ocean side of dune, which is effectively half of the beach.
From the Margate/Ventnor border, iron pipe will continue to extend southward thru Margate towards Longport. Beachgoers will eventually need to walk-over pipes using sand ramp. Offshore dredges will remain at the border, pumping sand onto the ‘pad’ site at Fredericksburg Ave.
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Margate & Ventnor Dune Building Recap: Weeks Marine is the contractor creating the dune & extended beach. They’re being managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. The State of NJ (Governor Christie) and the NJ DEP (Dept of Environmental Protection) believe a one-size-fits-all solution to coastal storm damage, AKA dunes, is the best strategy to protect ‘lives & property’.
Last week, for about the 5th time, the dune & dredge work schedule was abruptly changed. With work progressing slowly in Ventnor, a decision was made to flip the pipes and spend the rest of July & Aug working in Margate. Was it weather and equipment maintenance that forced the change? Or was it veiled revenge for Margate pushing back against unwanted, 13 ft sand dunes on this already well-protected part of Absecon Island?
Local Newspaper & Radio coverage of this major story is spotty at best. Too often, it’s just downright wrong and harmful, especially to the Ventnor tourism economy. On July 7, The Press of Atlantic City website published a story that wrongly proclaimed that Ventnor beaches are closed. Huh? Not true. Only 4 blocks of Ventnor beach are temporarily fenced off.
