Monmouth Beach readies 250th events as public works reports Seaview Avenue done and tunnel breakthrough nears

The borough’s engineer, Julie, showed photos of recently completed projects — including the Griffin Park ADA-accessible gazebo, Seaview Avenue phases 1 and 2, the West Street boat ramp and bulkhead, and commemorative crosswalks at Beach Road and Riverdale Avenue — and said phases 3 and 4 of Seaview Avenue and a number of grant applications are next.

Commissioner Bolsch credited the historical committee (and Courtney Wodicka) and the 250th celebration committee for design and decorations, and thanked public-works staff for work completed before Memorial Day. "The decorations look great around town thanks to the 250 Committee," he said.

On infrastructure, commissioners discussed a contractor request to run a second (night) shift to catch up on a sewer/tunnel contract. The second shift would run mainly inside a 100-foot-deep pit with most noisy activity limited to crane operations during shift changes; officials said the shift would likely run 4 p.m. to midnight, could start as soon as June and would run for several months to make up about four months of lost time. Commissioners expressed support for allowing the extra shift to speed completion.

Commissioner Bolsch also reported the tunnel-boring machine (contractor reported as Northeast Remsco) is close to a breakthrough at the Monmouth Beach connection and that the next work will be pipe insertion (the pipe was described in the meeting in terms consistent with a 54-inch-diameter pipe) and grouting around the pipe. Officials said the second contract used a custom autonomous TBM and that the work would not introduce water into the tunnel on breakthrough.

Tim reported no substantive update on the Wells Fargo branch matter beyond prior meetings; he said borough staff are exploring sale, donation or foundation options while an investigation continues. Shorelands Park work is expected to begin mid-summer.