Stone Harbor to Begin Major Beach Replenishment Project in November, Bringing Nearly 540,000 Cubic Yards of Sand to Shoreline

The federally funded project will restore eroded beaches, improve storm protection and bring temporary construction traffic and parking restrictions to the borough's south end.

STONE HARBOR, N.J. — A major beach replenishment project is about to get underway in Stone Harbor, with construction equipment scheduled to begin arriving Monday, November 2, ahead of an approximately $16 million federal effort to restore beaches and strengthen the borough's defenses against coastal storms.

The Borough of Stone Harbor announced Wednesday that contractors will begin mobilizing equipment November 2 and continue through Friday, November 6.

The work is expected to bring increased construction traffic, particularly near the 122nd Street beach parking lot, where portions of the parking area may be temporarily closed to the public.

Actual beach replenishment operations are scheduled to begin November 14 and continue through December 20, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Approximately 540,000 cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto Stone Harbor's shoreline as part of a larger U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that also includes Avalon.

The project is intended to widen eroded beaches, strengthen coastal protection and prepare the shoreline for the 2027 summer tourism season.

What Residents Should Expect Beginning November 2

Stone Harbor officials are advising residents and visitors to prepare for construction-related disruptions during the first week of November.

According to the borough's October 28 announcement, equipment mobilization will take place from Monday, November 2, through Friday, November 6.

Construction vehicles will travel along routes leading to the 122nd Street beach parking lot, and increased traffic may continue into the following week.

Minor traffic delays are possible.

Portions of the parking lot may also be closed during beach-fill operations.

The borough has not announced a complete parking closure or provided specific dates for individual beach-access restrictions.

Officials emphasized that the schedule could change depending on weather and contractor operations.

The municipality said it will provide updates if mobilization dates are revised.

Nearly 540,000 Cubic Yards of Sand Coming to Stone Harbor

The replenishment project is part of a $15.8 million contract awarded in June by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District to Norfolk Dredging Company.

The contract covers beach and dune restoration in both Avalon and Stone Harbor under the federal Townsends Inlet to Cape May Inlet coastal storm risk management project.

The Army Corps' original contract announcement called for approximately 538,867 cubic yards of sand to be placed in Stone Harbor.

The work is designed to restore beaches that have experienced significant erosion and improve their ability to absorb wave energy during coastal storms.

Sand will be dredged from Hereford Inlet and pumped through a system of pipelines onto the beach.

Heavy equipment will then spread and grade the sand to meet the project's engineered design.

In addition to widening the beach, certain dune areas and beach-access paths may be repaired.

Most of the work, however, will focus on expanding the beach between the base of the dunes and the waterline.

Which Beaches Will Be Replenished?

Stone Harbor's July project announcement outlined a construction sequence beginning at 122nd Street and moving north toward 120th Street.

Crews are then expected to shift to the area around 113th Street and continue placing sand north toward 100th Street.

The Army Corps' original contract description identified two broader project areas: approximately 98th through 114th streets and 120th Street south to the terminal groin.

The federal agency also noted that additional areas could receive sand depending on surveys conducted before construction.

The borough's announced construction sequence and the Army Corps' contract limits are not identical, making updated work maps and schedules important for residents who want to know when crews will reach specific beach entrances.

The final placement locations and sequence may be adjusted based on beach conditions and contractor operations.

No Local Tax Dollars Required, Borough Says

One of the most significant aspects of the project is its funding.

Stone Harbor officials say the beach replenishment work is fully funded through federal assistance and will not require local tax dollars.

The borough announced in July that the approximately $16 million project was being funded through a federal grant secured with assistance from federal partners.

The exact Army Corps contract award was $15.8 million.

The work is being carried out through a partnership involving the Army Corps, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the boroughs of Stone Harbor and Avalon.

For Stone Harbor property owners, the federal funding arrangement means the municipality does not expect to finance this construction contract through a local property tax contribution.

The project is separate from the federal disaster assistance recently requested by New Jersey following September's coastal storm.

The Army Corps awarded the Avalon-Stone Harbor contract in June, months before that storm.

Consequently, the replenishment work should not be confused with new emergency funding approved in response to the recent nor'easter.

Avalon Also Part of Major Coastal Protection Effort

Although Stone Harbor's construction is about to begin, the federal contract also includes extensive replenishment work in neighboring Avalon.

The Army Corps' June announcement called for approximately 941,032 cubic yards of sand to be placed along Avalon's beaches between Ninth and 28th streets.

Combined with the approximately 538,867 cubic yards planned for Stone Harbor, the contract calls for nearly 1.48 million cubic yards of sand across the two communities.

The project is part of a long-running federal effort to maintain beaches and dunes along the Seven Mile Island coastline.

The Army Corps designed the work to reduce damage from coastal storms by maintaining an engineered beach and dune system.

That system provides a buffer between ocean waves and developed areas.

Wider beaches can reduce the force of waves reaching dunes, roads, homes and other infrastructure.

However, replenishment does not eliminate the risk of coastal flooding or guarantee that sand will remain in place during future storms.

Beaches naturally change with tides, waves and seasonal weather, making periodic maintenance necessary.

Sand Will Come From Hereford Inlet

Stone Harbor's replenishment sand will be dredged from Hereford Inlet.

The borough said the use of the inlet as a sand source followed coordinated advocacy by Stone Harbor and Avalon.

The sand will be transported hydraulically through pipelines rather than primarily by truck.

Once it reaches the beach, construction equipment will distribute and shape it according to the project's engineering specifications.

Residents and beachgoers may see dredging equipment offshore, pipelines crossing sections of the beach and heavy machinery operating in designated construction zones.

The borough has not yet published a detailed daily schedule of individual beach closures for the November and December work.

Residents should expect access restrictions in active construction areas and follow posted safety notices.

Why the Project Matters After Recent Coastal Storms

The start of construction comes after another period of significant coastal weather affecting South Jersey.

September's nor'easter damaged beaches, dunes and public infrastructure in Atlantic and Cape May counties, prompting Gov. Mikie Sherrill to seek a federal major disaster declaration.

Cape May County reported approximately $13.8 million in storm-related damage in that request.

The Stone Harbor project was planned and funded before the September storm, but its arrival underscores the importance of maintaining protective beaches along the Jersey Shore.

Beach erosion is a continuing concern for coastal communities, particularly where homes, businesses and roads are located close to the ocean.

For Stone Harbor, restoring sand along vulnerable stretches of shoreline is intended to improve the borough's ability to withstand future storms.

It also has economic implications.

The borough's beaches are central to its summer tourism economy, and maintaining adequate beach width helps preserve recreational access for residents and visitors.

Work Expected to Continue Through December

Stone Harbor's previously announced construction schedule calls for beach-fill operations from November 14 through December 20.

The borough expects the work to be completed in time for the 2027 beach season.

That schedule remains subject to weather, equipment availability, dredging conditions and other construction factors.

Officials have not announced whether the September storm altered the amount of sand required or whether additional work may be necessary beyond the original contract.

The Army Corps has previously indicated that final sand-placement areas may be adjusted following surveys of beach conditions.

Residents can expect additional municipal announcements as the contractor moves from equipment mobilization to active dredging and beach construction.

For now, the immediate impact will be increased construction activity near the borough's south end beginning November 2.

The larger result, if the work proceeds as planned, will be a substantially restored shoreline with nearly 540,000 cubic yards of new sand placed along Stone Harbor's beaches before the end of the year.