Seaside Heights to build seawall to protect boardwalk - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Superstorm Sandy

Seaside Heights to build seawall to protect boardwalk

Posted: Updated:
NEW JERSEY (MYFOXNY.COM) -

The Seaside Heights boardwalk was completely washed away by Superstorm Sandy. When the borough builds the new boardwalk, it will also build a concrete seawall on the beach to protect the boardwalk and beachfront homes and businesses from storm surges.

The mayor said the wall will be 2 feet higher than the boardwalk.

"We thought it would be the best protection, we thought with a 50-year warranty it would hold up," Mayor William Akers said. "The bottom line is you need protection. We all understand now that the way it was didn't work so we need to do something different."

But some say that could do more harm than good.

Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club said seawalls don't work. He said that during a storm the waves will go over and around the concrete wall. He also said that during high tide the wall will just speed up erosion on the beach.

"When the waves come in and they hit the wall because it doesn't disperse the energy, it actually forces the waves to go straight down," Tittel said. "It causes your beaches to erode a lot quicker and a lot faster than they would normally if you had natural dunes."

Construction on the boardwalk begins next week. The seawall will be built right after. The hope is that construction will all be complete before Memorial Day weekend.

  • New Jersey NewsNew Jersey News

  • Friday, May 17 2013 10:42 PM EDT2013-05-18 02:42:48 GMT
    Fox 5 takes a look at the preparations for the Super Bowl XLVIII. This is the road to glory.
    Fox 5 takes a look at the preparations for the Super Bowl XLVIII. This is the road to glory.
  • Friday, May 17 2013 8:53 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:53:52 GMT
    The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has approved the master plan for the American Dream megamall in the Meadowlands sports complex. The approval at Friday's special board meeting means the
    The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has approved the master plan for the American Dream megamall in the Meadowlands sports complex. The approval at Friday's special board meeting means the
  • Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker captured

    Friday, May 17 2013 2:13 PM EDT2013-05-17 18:13:33 GMT
    An Internet celebrity known on Facebook and YouTube as "Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" was arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly Clark, N.J., man.
    An Internet celebrity known on Facebook and YouTube as "Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" was arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly Clark, N.J., man.
Powered by WorldNow

25 FOX Drive
Dedham, MA 02026

Phone (781) 467-2525

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices