Councilman: 'All of Us' Want Faster Ortley Beach Recovery

The following was submitted by Toms River Township Councilman Mo Hill:

The road to recovery in Ortley Beach will take time and while all of us want the process to proceed more rapidly progress is being made.  

Ortley Beach took a direct hit from Superstorm Sandy. The damage done to utilities, infrastructure and personal property was devastating.  

The first thing the Township did was to restore the dunes on our public property to pre-Sandy conditions. The Army Corps of Engineers Dune and Beach Replenishment Plan will provide the protection to the Barrier Island and the mainland and is awaiting approval of easements from private property owners.  

In December the Township shifted its focus to debris removal operations in Ortley Beach.  At the height of the operation over 17,000 cubic yards of debris was being removed daily from Ortley Beach.  The Township is continuing with debris removal operations throughout the summer.  Residents who need a pickup should check the Township website and contact Ms. Kathy Falke at the Public Works Department.  

The Township is working with FEMA on the Personal Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program which involves the demolition of condemned homes.  Residents can obtain information and FEMA forms on the PPDR program on the Township website.  FEMA has final approval on homes involved in the program.  To date over 50 homes have been demolished or are in the process of demolition and over 160 homes have been approved for the program.  

Ocean Terrace/Avenue has been graded and the Third Avenue Parking Lot has been paved (see attached photos).  Boardwalk construction is on schedule and is 50 percent complete (see attached photo).  The construction of the Lord House Lifeguard Station is 25 percent complete.  

The Council awarded contracts to repair or reconstruct 50 Township owned bulkheads throughout the Township.  Completion of the bulkhead projects is estimated to take 180 days.  The roads in Ortley Beach are being reconstructed in 3 phases.  The Phase I contract involving roads in the southwestern portion of Ortley Beach has been awarded and should be completed in 90 days.  Phase II involves the roads in the northwestern section of Ortley Beach and the design phase is 85 percent complete with a completion date of 180 days.  Phase III involves the roads east of Route 35 and the design is 85 percent complete with a completion date of 90 days for the project.  

The design for the reconstruction of Bayside Park is completed but is awaiting NJDOT replacement of storm drains in the area.  The Ocean Terrace/Avenue final paving design is 95 percent complete and the contract to rebuild the Lord House Lifeguard Station has been awarded.  The final paving of the roads in Ortley Beach is dependent on utility construction, removal of demolition debris and excavations.  

While progress is not as rapid as all of us would like it is moving along.  The damage and devastation from Superstorm Sandy was the worst in New Jersey history and recovery will be a long and deliberate process on both the Barrier Island and the mainland as the Township and residents rebuild.

Mo Hill