North Boardwalk Renovation Nears Completion

May 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under Archived Notices

Belmar Department of Public Works carpenters began the last phase of the renovations to the north boardwalk, by starting work on a long ramp that will connect to a new concrete and paver sidewalk being installed by contractors near the Belmar Fishing Club. The renovations have shortened the boardwalk by about 75 feet (the boardwalk previously extended as far as the street light in the photo), to create room for a concrete dumpster pad the DPW will use for removing trash from the beach. (The DPW previously kept their dumpster directly on the sand at the opening between the end of the boardwalk and the BFC property.) By moving the beach dumpster gate to the south, the Borough is providing safer truck access to the site, as well as additional area for plantings that will screen the new dumpster location from view. In addition to landscape screening on both sides of the dumpster pad, a gate will be installed on to screen the dumpster from passersby on the boardwalk. By sloping the entire boardwalk gradually down to the sidewalk grade, the DPW is eliminating the problem that previously existed where the old boardwalk pitched sideways down to the sidewalk, which created an often slippery and potentially unsafe condition for walkers and runners. The improvements coincide with new gates and other renovations the Belmar Fishing Club is making to the front of its building. Mayor Pringle has asked the Monmouth County Freeholders to consider using stimulus funds to extending these new concrete sidewalk improvements northward to the Ocean Avenue bridge, replacing the worn out asphalt that currently serves as a sidewalk in that area. The County Engineer has agreed to look into the matter.