Avalon Sand Back-Passing Project

Posted May 23rd 2022

The Avalon Borough Council approved a contract with Mount Construction of Berlin, N.J., in the amount of $677,431 for a spring sand back-passing project. The project will restore Avalon’s north-end beaches with 64,000 cubic yards of sand between 9th and 16th streets, passed from a borrow area between 32nd and 38th streets. By contract, the entire project is set to be completed no later than mid-June, with a pause in work scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.

“This winter’s storm events, specifically the two January snowstorms, resulted in considerable erosion to Jersey Shore beaches, Avalon included,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “This project will move eroded sand that landed in the center of the community and relocate it back to the north end in advance of the hurricane and tourism season.”

Sand back-passing projects have proved effective in providing sand and space on recreational beaches between scheduled hydraulic beach-fill projects; Avalon is scheduled for one of those at the end of 2022. Avalon was the first community to implement these interim projects utilizing machines from the U.S. Army and the Borough’s Department of Public Works.

Mount Construction was contracted for this year’s back-passing as opposed to internal staffing due to the lack of rental equipment available during the ongoing supply-chain issues. Mount Construction has partnered with the Borough in the past for similar projects and will move forward with the process under the supervision of Avalon municipal engineers and Public Works.

The area from 38th to 9th streets will be an active construction zone during the project, with heavy equipment operating and traversing along the Avalon beach between both points during workdays. The Borough of Avalon is asking individuals not to place beach chairs or blankets in the area where truck tires appear on the beach, as this is where trucks will travel throughout the day. The beaches will remain open during this ongoing project. For more information go to avalonboro.net.