New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials have announced the start of a project to dredge the outlet of the Beach Creek State navigation channel in North Wildwood, Cape May County.
The Beach Creek channel provides access between the back bay of Wildwood and the Hereford Inlet. This project will ensure that the channel is safe for navigation, with a depth of six feet.
NJDOT’s contractor, Wickberg Marine, began work on the Beach Creek channel project in mid-October and work will continue through November.
Sand will be hydraulically dredged during an outgoing tide only and discharged directly into the Inlet, where it will be carried by the tide to replenish the Inlet’s sand islands.
As NJDOT reported, the dredge and associated pipelines will remain in place even when not actively dredging, so mariners need to be cautious when passing through the north end of Beach Creek Channel into the Hereford Inlet. The pipeline and discharge platform will be clearly marked. Channel closures are not expected, although this is subject to change.