AERIAL VIDEO: Beach replenishment project underway in Long Branch

A beach replenishment project is underway in Long Branch, where local photographer Bob Alberding of RCAP/Remote Control Aerial Photography captured aerial video of the work yesterday. (NewsWorks profiled Alberding earlier this year.)

The $40 million federally funded U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project began in late November. Crews are working around-the-clock, pumping in approximately 3.3 million cubic yards of offshore sand to replenish beaches between Seven Presidents Park southward to north of Lake Takanassee, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District release. 

The project, expected to be completed by the spring, will deliver much improved beaches — even better than prior to Superstorm Sandy, said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th Dist.) in a release. 

“Sandy severely damaged our beaches and caused serious erosion that needs to be repaired to protect us from future storms,” Pallone said. “With this critical beach replenishment project getting underway, we are moving a step closer toward recovering from Superstorm Sandy and rebuilding the Shore.”

The Long Branch project is one of four areas for post-Sandy repair and restoration work between Sea Bright and Manasquan under the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers New York District, resulting in roughly 16 million cubic yards of sand pumped ashore along the entire stretch, according to Chris Gardner, Public Affairs Specialist of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District. Crews have finished work in Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach.

Watch aerial footage of the ongoing work in Manasquan here.