Pallone: Union Beach Flood Control Project Set to Begin in the Fall
Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced today with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) that the Union Beach flood control project will begin this fall. The first contract was awarded this week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for $50,035,435 and will fund the construction of a beach berm with a planted dune, pedestrian and automobile crosswalks, and terminal groins. The project was authorized for construction in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. Subsequent authorization was provided through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 that Pallone and the Senators fought to secure after Superstorm Sandy. The next phase of the project will include interior flood control structures, including a flood gate.
“I’m happy to see that the Union Beach flood control project is set to begin this year. Coastal states like New Jersey are on the frontlines of rising sea levels and stronger storms due to climate change,” said Congressman Pallone. “I fought to include funding for this project so we can protect homes and businesses from future disasters. With this funding, the Army Corps will replenish beaches with a dune, build pedestrian crossovers, and repair existing decking that will help protect residents from future storm damage and flooding events. I’m going to continue to make sure coastal communities in my district have the resources they need.”
“I’m glad to see this critical project that will ensure greater protection from coastal storms for homes and businesses in Union Beach,” said Senator Menendez. “We know how severely impacted this community was during Hurricane Sandy and this is why I fought hard to secure disaster assistance funding for our communities. Our coastal communities are vulnerable to storm surges and the impacts of climate change, and I will continue to fight for federal funding so that USACE and local communities have the necessary resources to invest in long term flood mitigation and prevention projects.”
“This Army Corps flood control project has been years in the making and this federal funding represents a major victory for the people of Union Beach and for the state of New Jersey,” said Senator Booker. “We’ve already seen how climate change has made storms like Superstorm Sandy increasingly common in our state, posing an urgent threat to our coastal communities. I was proud to join fellow members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation in securing the funds to help protect residents’ lives and property from future flooding events.”
“This announcement is great news for the Borough of Union Beach. We are grateful to Congressman Pallone, our federal delegation, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for their steadfast support of the Union Beach Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Project,” said Union Beach Mayor Charles Cocuzza. “Superstorm Sandy devastated our borough and only amplified the need to protect our residents from the growing threat of sea level rise and stronger storms.”
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