BEACH AND CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT MEASURES AT 

 ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY 



Atlantic City has become one of the outstanding seashore resorts of 

 the country largely because of its excellent beach. The approximate 

 stability of the beach since the founding of the community encouraged the 

 investment of millions of dollars in hotels and other recreational pro- 

 perty,, Its width and safeness have made it a popular summer resort for 

 visitors not only from adjacent states but from all parts of the country. 



Within the last decade extensive erosion has developed adjacent to 

 Absecon Inlet and the high water line has receded beneath the boardwalk, 

 seriously threatening many valuable buildings . The 194-4 hurricane 

 destroyed most of the boardwalk in this area and the well-known Heinz 

 Piero The remainder of "the pier was determined to be unworthy of re- 

 building and has been removed „ The erosion had become so alarming by last 

 year that city officials decided that immediate measures for improvement 

 and protection of this portion of the city were imperative „ The area is 

 shown on the accompanying sketch. Figure L 



The plan adopted by the city, to be constructed with State engineer- 

 ing advice and financial aid, comprises principally a long stone jetty at 

 Absecon Inlet and sand fill,, A jetty, about 800 feet long, with top 14. 

 feet wide at an elevation about 7 feet above mean low water was built 

 at the bend of the jetty to protect the beach northwest of the jetty. 

 These structures are shown on Figure 2. 



The plan for sand fill contemplated restoration of the beach on both 

 sides of the new jetty, westward for a distance of about 1 mile and north- 

 ward along Maine Avenue. Approximately one million cubic yards of sand 

 were pumped by hydraulic dredge from the west end of Brigantine Island 

 to these uptown beaches, thus building the beaches up for a width of 400 

 feet from the boardwalk in the central section and about 200 feet in the 

 inlet section along Maire Avenue. Figures 2 to 5 show these beaches before, 

 during, and after placement of the sand fill. 



A total of 125 men were engaged in the $597,000 project to transport 

 950,000 cubic yards of sand to the uptown beaches through a pipe line 

 27 inches in diameter. The State agreed to contribute $232,750 toward the 

 project. This is the largest project of its kind in which the State has 

 participated. 



The pipe line was carried across the channel to the beach on pontoons 

 for a distance of about 1,500 feet. Navigation was maintained by opening 

 of the pipe line upon demand. 



The dredging company experienced two mishaps, one when the pontoon- 

 supported 27-inch pipe line was snapped by a 30-mile per hour wind during 

 the beginning of the project and later the project was halted again due 

 to a strong tide which swept a 110-foot fishing boat, the "Sea King", 

 against the pipe line. 



