After going decades without dredging the Shark River and experiencing the wrath of Superstorm Sandy, NJDOT sought to increase safety and reliability and cut congestion for boaters in the area. For this $3.3 million project, NJDOT dredged 46,000 cubic yards of material and dried it through mechanical processing (to put about 600 tons of sand on nearby beaches. The residual water was cleaned out via clarifying tank and pumped back into the bay ecosystem. Upon completion, the project provided for more channel reliability, safer navigation routes for boaters, better access for commercial fisherman, and an all-around stronger local economy.
America's Transportation Awards 