Officials in Seaside Heights took the first step in rebuilding the shore town’s hurricane-ravaged boardwalk this morning, driving a brand-new support piling deep into the sand.
“It’s a positive step forward, it’s a visual reminder that we’re on our way back,” Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Akers told NBC10’s Ted Greenberg. “The excitement is in the air. You feel like it’s Christmas.”
Seaside Heights’ boardwalk was badly damaged last October after Hurricane Sandy spun into New Jersey. The storm had so much power, it caused an amusement pier to partially collapse, sending a roller coaster into the surf.
Construction crews will drive 60 pilings a day for the next week and a half to two weeks. After that period, they’ll expand the driving to 115 pilings a day. They hope to have the entire boardwalk rebuilt by mid-May, officials say.
“It’s our intention that it looks as close to last summer as humanly possible,” Akers said. The boardwalk rebuilding effort is expected to cost about $7 million. Officials hope at least 75-percent of the cost will be covered by FEMA.
For Ocean County residents who’ve been working hard to come back from Hurricane Sandy, the sight of the rebuilding effort is welcomed.
“I’m very excited to see it happen and come back to life again,” Linda Sodl said. She and her husband came to watch the event. “My grandchildren can’t wait for it to be back and working again.”
Photo Credit: NBC10