Seaside Heights is moving forward with a plan to replace its entire boardwalk that was last built the winter after Superstorm Sandy, as well as accessible entrances at each street, however the work will have to wait until after the current beach season.
Seaside Heights received the greatest amount of funding from the state’s $100 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund of any municipality in Ocean County, however many local leaders have quietly expressed their displeasure that just three towns in Ocean County received funding while cities more politically-friendly to the administration of Gov. Phil Murphy (D) received the bulk of the funds. Asbury Park and Atlantic City alone received $40 million – almost half the entire fund. Seaside Heights, which has bucked the trend over the course of several years and maintained an overwhelmingly positive relationship with the governor’s office – despite being led by a Republican mayor and council – received $4,795,362.
The Seaside Heights boardwalk, Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
The Seaside Heights boardwalk, Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
The boardwalk replace will see the entirety of the borough’s timber boardwalk removed and rebuilt, except for the sections that were replaced in a smaller project last year. In that project, the boards between Dupont and Lincoln avenues on the southern portion were replaced, as well as the vehicular ramp and boards at Grant Avenue on the northern portion. Last year’s project, at the height of the national inflation crisis, may have been wider in scope had prices of timber been lower, but market conditions are now such that the $4.8 million is expected to cover the cost of the entire project – subject to market fluctuations.
“We believe we can do the remaining part of the boardwalk, and the ramps,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz. “With that funding, we should be able to complete the rest of the boardwalk – what remains from last year – from end to end.”
Seaside Heights officials have planned for several years to begin replacing the boardwalk, built in the winter of 2013 after Superstorm Sandy destroyed the previous boardwalk. Some officials have theorized that when the borough’s entire boardwalk was replaced following Sandy, the screws used to secure the boards were not of the highest quality stainless steel, causing some early deterioration. But more than a decade later, regular maintenance replacement is required anyway.
“We’ll be able to replace the ramps, the boardwalk and some piping and conduits for wiring,” said Vaz. “We have to go out for bids, obviously, but we feel pretty confident the project will be done.”
The electrical conduits will carry the wiring required for a future expansion of a hard-wired public address system that can be heard on the boardwalk and beach, both for general announcements and in emergencies. The borough has been setting up the hard-wired system over the past several years, replacing an old wireless system that had proven unreliable. The town also uses the PA system to play the National Anthem each morning to start the day.
Speakers along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., Sept. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
The southern portion of the 2023 Seaside Heights boardwalk replacement after completion, March 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
The borough had originally planned on replacing half of the boardwalk this spring, then completing the remainder in the fall, however the entire project will now be put off until after the 2024 summer season in order to avoid any disruptions to tourism.
“We’re not going to be able to do anything now – it’s too late,” Vaz said. “By the time the money is approved, it will already be April. It will probably be done in phases, and I’m thinking we will start toward the end of September [2024]. It will probably be done in two phases so the boardwalk can remain open during construction.”
Last year, the boardwalk remained open during construction, as one side of the boardwalk was replaced at a time, leaving a path for those seeking a stroll on the boards.
“We had hoped to get word about the grant earlier, but we’re not complaining – we got the grant, and that is the important part,” said Vaz.
The nearly $4.8 million allotted for Seaside Heights is the highest grant any town in Ocean County received. Toms River received $1,018,441, which Mayor Dan Rodrick said last week would be used to expand public access at the former Joey Harrison’s Surf Club site, and Berkeley Township received $448,125. Lavallette and Seaside Park were both denied funding; Shorebeat is following up with officials in those towns to review the status of their respective boardwalk upgrades they had hoped would be funded.
In Seaside Heights, however, one of the Jersey Shore’s summer entertainment meccas will receive fresh timber well in time for the 2025 season – and for year-round residents, likely several months of new boards to walk on before the rush begins.
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