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Wildwood Crest authorizes emergency back‑beach fill and outlines larger waterfront projects
Summary
Commissioners authorized emergency work to fill low‑lying back‑beach areas, discussed valves and bulkhead replacements to mitigate tidal flooding, and outlined a $4–5 million vision to extend and replace the Crest Fishing Pier while seeking county grant support.
The Borough authorized emergency back‑beach fill work and discussed a package of shoreline and coastal‑infrastructure projects intended to reduce ponding and tide‑related flooding.
At the meeting the borough authorized an emergency asphalt paving contract and work order to address ponding and low‑lying areas on the back bay and adjacent dune zones. The immediate scope targets a prioritized three‑block area (Farragut, Stanton, and Stockton) where ponding and algae accumulation have been reported; the borough engineer said the permitted work allows removing up to 12 inches of sand in the permitted blanket area in front of the dunes and redistributing it to fill the back‑beach depressions.
Engineering details and flood mitigation: The borough engineer reported that the Bayside bulkhead replacement project has completed work on many street ends with two remaining replacements targeted before Memorial Day; the design aims to raise street ends where feasible to mitigate tidal inundation. Commissioners discussed installation of manual stop valves to prevent tidal backflow; the engineer estimated each valve costs roughly $50,000 and must be physically closed and opened by borough personnel, an operational constraint the borough recognized.
Crest Fishing Pier: The borough has received approximately $187,000 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for pier replacement work and is pursuing up to $2.5 million from the Cape May County Open Space Board; the engineer estimated a total project cost of $4–5 million to demolish, widen and extend the Crest Fishing Pier (discussed lengths of roughly 500–550 feet), add ADA fishing access points, a shade gazebo and possibly bathrooms. The planning and permitting strategy remains under discussion and will be refined through engineering design and grant negotiations.
Why it matters: Back‑beach ponding, bulkhead integrity and dune‑project permits create near‑term public‑safety and beach‑access concerns ahead of the summer season. The emergency funding and contract awards are intended to address visible public‑safety problems quickly while the borough pursues larger, grant‑funded capital work.
Next steps: Staff will mobilize the emergency contractor to begin the prioritized three‑block fill work, coordinate permit compliance, and continue grant pursuit for the larger pier replacement and streetscape projects. Further scope changes and additional block work were discussed as possible change orders after initial work and reporting from beach patrol and recreation staff.
