Seaside Heights Boardwalk Replacement to Begin in Sept., Memorial Boards to be Preserved

Boardwalk replacement construction continues along the southern portion of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The Seaside Heights boardwalk replacement project will likely begin in the third week of September, officials said, and planning for the wide-scale maintenance effort is well underway.

Mayor Anthony Vaz said the first phase of the project, a $1,021,773 portion funded through state grants, will begin in the third or fourth week of the month. That portion will be completed by Epic Management, which has completed similar projects in town.

The area to be covered by the initial phase of work will begin at Hiering Avenue at the northern end of the boardwalk and, most likely, run as far south as Sheridan Avenue depending on the cost of materials.

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“We’re moving fast on the project because we want it done before the 2025 season,” said Vaz.

Contracts for the larger phase of work, from Sheridan Avenue to Franklin Avenue, will be sought as the northern portion is completed. That portion will have a longer time period available for completion, including the late fall, winter and spring, though officials are hopeful the project will be completed well before summer begins.

The borough may have to re-route some of the numerous charity walks and runs that are held on the boardwalk in the fall due to the project. They will either be detoured around a block or moved to the southern end of the boardwalk, pending the progress that has taken place by the date of the event.

Officials have also decided on a plan to preserve memorial boards and benches along the boardwalk. Over the years, many families and businesses have purchased memorial inscriptions on individual boards, usually dedicated to a loved one who passed away. While the memorial boards cannot be re-used as part of the new boardwalk, they will not be destroyed in the process of removal as in the past.

“To the extent possible, we’re going to try to get the engraved boards up before the boardwalk gets ripped up,” said Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz. “The boards now are nailed down – it’s not like the old days where they literally get ripped up.”

After the boards are moved, they will be stored at a public works facility in town, and an online form will be placed on the borough’s website where people can claim their board and schedule a time to pick it up.

Boardwalk replacement construction continues along the southern portion of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Boardwalk replacement construction continues along the southern portion of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Boardwalk replacement construction continues along the southern portion of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

“There will be a submission notice on our website – if you’d like to have your board, you can go to the borough plant and get your board,” Mayor Vaz said. “If the borough decides to do the program again, if I had a board I’d have to pay it again, but I’ll still have my original board for sentimental purposes.”

Vaz said the borough is interested in starting a new memorial board program and is interested in working with the borough’s Business Improvement District to help organize it.

Many of the benches along the boardwalk are also inscribed with dedications, and these will not only remain, but be improved before next season.

“The benches are going to be removed from the boardwalk, stored, and we’re going to have them power washed,” said Vaz. “It will get rid of the dark black coloration and they should look pretty fresh, and they’ll go back.”

The boardwalk replacement project began last year with an investment from the borough, and will continue in a much larger way this season with an influx of funding from the state’s Boardwalk Preservation Fund.

Last year, the borough began the project by replacing timber on the southern end of the boardwalk between Porter Avenue (south of the Beachcomber) to Franklin Avenue. The first phase of work in 2024, as reported earlier in this article, will include the northernmost reaches of the boardwalk.

Boardwalk replacement construction continues along the southern portion of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Seaside Heights received $4,795,362 from the boardwalk fund to complete the timber replacement, plus install new ramps for each street end. The larger project will also include piping and conduits which will allow for continued upgrades of the borough’s public address system.

Officials intend to keep the entire boardwalk open during construction. During last year’s project, one side of the boardwalk was replaced at a time, leaving an open path for those seeking a stroll on the boards.