Ocean City, NJ Secures $19.5 Million Beach Replenishment Contract

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $19.5 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company to restore Ocean City’s north‑end beaches in New Jersey. The project will pump about 1.6 million cubic yards of sand onto the shoreline between the terminal groin near Seaview Road and 12th Street, marking the 11th renourishment effort since the early 1990s.

Work is proceeding in stages, with sand‑pumping operations now approaching Sixth Street. Several beach entrances remain closed while sand ramps are built over pipelines; roughly 1,000 feet of beach is closed to the public at any time. Some rebuilt sections, such as Park Place and areas north of Brighton Place, have already reopened with lifeguarded swimming zones.

The replenishment is viewed as critical to the local economy. New Jersey’s tourism industry generated a record $50.6 billion in 2024, and officials say the beaches are the primary economic engine for the southern shore.