HOLY DISRUPTION…AGAIN. #Beachgate > This time, Margate gets the screws applied, again.
Dune Project Update: Work to cease in Ventnor on July 6, and will now proceed in Margate on July 7. The dredge pipes landing on the Fredericksburg Ave beach will now travel in the opposite direction, towards Margate & Longport, instead of Ventnor and Atlantic City.
Many assume somebody in Trenton didn’t like that Margate was probably going to escape from being ‘punished’ with dune-building this summer. Margate has been accused by the NJ Governor of being ‘selfish’ for opposing the dunes, and delaying it through lawsuits and referendums. Margate is well known for it’s robust bulkhead system that has proven highly effective for decades, in protecting against angry, front ocean surf.
Beach and dune work has proceeded slowly in Ventnor. Very slow.
On June 29, the Army Corps of Engineers notified the City of Ventnor that the beach replenishment currently taking place on the south end of Ventnor will cease July 6 and move into Margate and Longport. Work is expected to resume in Ventnor after Labor Day.
Ventnor residents are strongly opposed to the questionable building of dunes.
Will dune ‘save lives & protect property’? That’s what the NJ DEP, Dept of Environmental Protection thinks.
Blocking rare water-views from the Boardwalk and unchecked government spending were common reasons for Ventnor taxpayer’s opposition to this project.
Back bay flooding, surge & drainage are the real problems in Margate, Ventnor & AC…..not ocean waves.
Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf, an employee of the CRDA / State of NJ, along with Ventnor resident, Congressman Frank LoBiondo, are part of a vocal minority that support funding, building and regular re-nourishment of a Ventnor dune / berm system.
Ventnor Commisioner Landgraf’s position as a NJ State employee (CRDA) has raised eyebrows. Boardwalk chatter suggests there may be a conflict of interest. As a local Ventnor commissioner and a NJ State employee, Landgraf would likely come under heavy pressure from Trenton if he opposed the dune and beach project.
Ventnor is mandated to pay for beach replenishment every 3 years. Ventnor will need to bond/borrow in order to pay $450,000 for adding more sand to our current, very healthy dune system during this so-called ‘re-nourishment’. Ventnor is responsible for 8% of total costs for each local, beach re-nourishment project.
Beach ‘re-nourishment’ is done every 3 years, whether a shore town needs it… or not.
The work in Ventnor will use the same “cutter dredge” that is doing the work in Atlantic City.
Ventnor gets lucky as dune work changes direction….towards Margate starting July 7.
Is equipment maintenance really the reason for the change? Or is Margate target of revenge for pushing back against dunes for past three years?
From Amy Rosenberg of Philly.com:
Steve Rochette from the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers passed along word of a change for the Absecon Island project schedule. One of the two hopper dredges scheduled to do the work is now down for maintenance for approximately two months so we had to change the schedule. See below details.————————————————————
* The RN WEEKS, which is one of two hopper dredges scheduled to work in Ventnor, Margate and Longport on Absecon Island, now requires mandatory maintenance beginning June 30th and will be unable to work for between 45 and 60 days.
* This change, coupled with delays on a project in Florida (which delayed the arrival of the hopper dredges to the Absecon Island project) and several significant weather-related delays, have rendered the previous project schedule un-achievable.
* As a result, in order to accomplish the project on schedule, Weeks Marine Inc. will now use the pipeline dredge RS WEEKS (currently working in Atlantic City) to complete beachfill operations in all of Atlantic City and Ventnor City. Work in Ventnor is likely to start in late August/early September after the pipeline dredge completes work in Atlantic City.
* The hopper dredge BE LINDHOLM will continue to work at the current pipe landing site at Fredericksburg Avenue in Ventnor to establish a significant pad area for operations through July 5th. Once complete, beachfill operations will then progress south from the pipe landing into Margate to construct the protective beach and dune throughout Margate and then continue south into Longport to complete the remaining work on the contract. This means work would start approximately one week earlier in Margate from the previously estimated July 13th start. Work will continue south through Margate for approximately 2 months.
* As always, the construction schedule is an estimate subject to change based on the availability of the dredges slated to complete the work; weather; mechanical issues and other factors.
Steve Rochette
Public Affairs Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Feedback > As someone who understands and hates this disaster, even I really don’t care WHEN they commit this crime. I only care THAT they’re doing it.
That said, the lengths they’ve gone – and the linguistic gymnastics they use – to screw Margate are truly amazing. Well played, Christie.
Photo by Ron Brown.
Reader Feedback > As someone who understands and hates this disaster, even I really don’t care WHEN they commit this crime. I only care THAT they’re doing it.
That said, the lengths they’ve gone – and the linguistic gymnastics they use – to screw Margate are truly amazing. Well played, Christie.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2), lives in Ventnor and his wife is a real-estate broker/agent in Ventnor. He sits on the House sub-committee that controls funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, who in turn controls contracting and funding for work done by companies like the one working in Ventnor. Oh the “thingamajig” broke so we have to do Margate first, sparing Ventnor for the summer. Funny how that thing conveniently broke the way it did, where it did and when it did. Political corruption at its finest.
I took this image on June 27th at 7:57pm with newly released DJI Spark.