Pallone Announces Agreement Signed to Begin Port Monmouth Flood Control Project

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that this morning, Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), signed the Port Monmouth Project Partnership Agreement, the contract between the Army Corps of Engineers and the state of New Jersey formally outlining the terms and conditions of Port Monmouth flood control project. Construction on the project will move forward in the coming months. The project will be constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers with federal dollars from the Sandy relief package passed by Congress in January 2013.

"I am glad to hear that the Army Corps of Engineers and the state of New Jersey have reached an agreement and that construction on this crucial project, which will protect homes and businesses from future flooding, can begin,” said Pallone. “Many in Port Monmouth faced serious flooding during Sandy. All along the Bayshore, flooding has become an increasingly common phenomenon as severe storms have become more frequent and residential and commercial development has increased. I am pleased that this project will finally be underway.”

Pallone announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will address major flood prevention to protect the low-lying residential and commercial areas in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown Township. The plans will include the construction of nearly 7,070 feet of levees, 3,585 feet of floodwalls and 2,640 feet of dune and beach renourishment. The entire $91 million project will be funded by the Sandy relief package and will offer significant protection to the area, which has suffered frequent flooding, erosion and damage from rain and coastal storms.

The Army Corps of Engineers will likely begin advertising the first portion of the project in March 2014, with the contract scheduled to be awarded in May 2014. This phase of the project includes dune restoration, beach replenishment, the construction of a terminal groin and extension of the fishing pier, involving roughly 400,000 cubic yards of sand. The larger flood control aspect of the project, which includes levees, floodwalls, a pumping station and a tide gate, is slated to begin construction in 2015.