Emergency dredging at the mouth of Double Creek Channel in Barnegat Bay is expected to begin this week after the condition of the state’s primary oceangoing artery degraded following last month’s nor’easter.
H&L Construction is anticipated to lay a pipe Oct. 14, a day before the expected start of hydraulic operations, the N.J. Department of Transportation said. The company is also leading the dredging of the Beach Haven West complex channels off Long Beach Island, a project that began in July and is anticipated to conclude in December. It’s unclear whether that work will be impacted.
Shoaling in Double Creek Channel has reached a critical level, and the safety of the boating public is a concern, state transportation officials said. The $1 million emergency dredging is needed to restore the waterway to a safe condition, the NJDOT said.
Barnegat Inlet is one of the East Coast’s most dynamic navigable inlets, and the Double Creek entrance channel sits at the head of its flood shoal, the DOT said. The channel has shoaled across its full width, leaving just 3 feet of water at mean low water—and as little as 1.5 feet or less when tides and wind reduce water levels.
The project will restore the channel to safe navigable depth by removing up to 40,000 cubic yards of sand from the channel, according to the DOT.
Additionally, the DOT Office of Maritime Resources plans to dredge about 1,200 feet of the channel from its entrance, restoring it to a depth of 7 feet at mean low water to support safe navigation, transportation officials said.
Work is expected to continue 24/7 until the project is completed early next month, the DOT said. The sand is expected to be used while keeping sediment within the system and protecting the resource from further degradation, officials said.
The pipeline will be marked with buoys and lights to help ensure safe navigation. Full channel closures are not expected. If a closure becomes necessary, it will be announced through the Local Notice to Mariners and on social media. State Aids to Navigation (ATON) may be removed as needed while work is underway, the DOT said.
Boaters should remain alert for the pipeline, buoys, dredge and other equipment, state transportation officials said. For everyone’s safety, do not approach the construction site or project equipment, the DOT said. Proceed with extreme caution through the dredging and construction zones, and observe no-wake speeds in all active work areas throughout the project.
For information about safe passage near or around the dredge and equipment, the DOT is asking boaters to contact the crew on VHF Channel 63.
