Repairs are currently underway
to the severely eroded sand and dunes in Ortley Beach following the Memorial
Day weekend storm.
The township of Toms River
spent about $150,000 to add sand because there was no beach left after the
February storm.
The holiday weekend storm
washed away that repair. So, the town contracted Earle Asphalt to once again
bring in the heavy equipment and dump sand in areas where there is simply no
beach left.
Even today with Northeast
winds, the waves still come up to the dune cliffs.
Toms River Mayor Mo Hill says
he hoped to get the beaches back open around June 20 to coincide with school
letting out. But right now, only the southern entrance to Ortley Beach is
accessible.
All the work follows a
complete multimillion-federal
tax dollar
funded beach restoration from about two years ago.
So far, Toms River budgeted
just over $400,000 for the intermediate repair before the feds return in
2022.