Contract awarded for beach nourishment along Delaware coast

The US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Philadelphia District has awarded a US$23.8 million contract to Weeks Marine of Cranford, New Jersey to conduct periodic nourishment on three dune and beachfill projects along the Delaware coast.

The contract is a joint effort between the USACE and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

The contract calls for dredging sand from offshore borrow sites. Sand is then pumped through a series of pipes, placed on beaches, and graded into an engineered dune and berm template, which is designed to reduce damages from coastal storm events.

Weeks Marine will begin dredging and beachfill operations in the winter/spring of 2023.

Dunes and associated beach access points will be repaired in certain areas. However, most of the work includes widening the beach between the toe of the dune and the water line.

Depending on the condition of the beach based on surveys, the USACE could exercise contract options to place additional sand as part of the project.

The project is cost-shared between the Federal government and the State of Delaware.