Congressman Van Drew Announces Townsends Inlet Dredging

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew announced a dredging project for the Townsends Inlet Bridge in Cape May County. The navigation route under the bridge has become increasingly dangerous, with shifting sand narrowing the channel. "Over the years, the route through Townsends Inlet has gotten smaller and more dangerous," said Congressman Van Drew. "As of today, we have an agreement in place to dredge at the bridge and make the inlet safer for recreational and commercial boats. My office is working with local, state, and federal governments to fund, permit, and execute this project. We are using dredging equipment already in the area for the Avalon beach replenishment project to get this done quickly while saving millions of dollars for taxpayers. Looking ahead, I am working to have Townsends Inlet studied as a federal navigation channel so we can establish a permanent plan for maintaining this waterway." "Avalon deeply appreciates the direction and guidance provided by Congressman Van Drew to achieve our mutual stakeholder objective of providing safe navigation through Townsend's Inlet," said Avalon Mayor John McCorristin. "Courtesy of an emergency beach fill acquired by the Congressman for the Borough, we are now able to partner with our neighbors in Sea Isle and the dredging company already in the Inlet to improve navigational safety and preserve the commercial and recreational boating opportunities that have a long lineage in Avalon and in Cape May County." "This project shows what effective government looks like when we work together with a shared commitment to getting things done," said Sea Isle Mayor Len Desiderio. "Thanks to Congressman Van Drew's leadership and our strong partnership with Avalon, we are moving forward with a plan that will ensure a safe and reliable navigational route through this vital waterway." "Cape May County is putting $250,000 toward this emergency dredge because Townsends Inlet bridge is at risk of becoming an unsafe maritime passage," said Cape May County Commissioner Patrick Rosenello. "With the dredge company already mobilized for the Avalon beach fill, the $1.5 million estimated construction costs are significantly less. Thanks to Congressman Van Drew for bringing Avalon, Sea Isle City, the Army Corps, the Bridge Commission, and NJDEP together quickly to address a project that simply could not wait." "The Bridge Commission is contributing $50,000 towards the project, which will help protect the Townsends Inlet bridge," said Cape May County Bridge Commission Chair Carol Brand. "The Bridge Commission is happy to support this much needed project, and we applaud Congressman Van Drew's efforts in facilitating the necessary emergency permits."