Emergency beach erosion repairs begin in North Wildwood, New Jersey

On a warm spring day down the shore, Paula Marder broke out her beach chair to enjoy one of her favorite spots in North Wildwood.

"This is absolutely wonderful," Marder said.

About three blocks away, emergency construction was underway at 15th Avenue to build a bulkhead near the city's beach patrol headquarters. 

"We were literally one storm away from a breach in our dune system," Mayor Salvatore Zampirri said.

Zampirri says the city declared an emergency about three weeks ago after a series of winter storms stripped away several feet of sand, which threatened the storm drainage system that runs along the dunes.

Construction began Tuesday to build a bulkhead from 15th to 12th avenues, which will tie into the existing bulkheads.

"If we had not done this, we would have lost the entire dune system and the water would have been flowing into the streets of JFK," Zampirri said.

"I think it's long overdue," Joe Barksdale, who lives in North Wildwood full-time, said. "The ocean is encroaching, and it needs to be addressed."

Erosion has been plaguing North Wildwood for years. The mayor says a lawsuit against the state is still pending after a long-planned replenishment project was canceled last year.

Zampirri says conversations have been productive and are moving forward about a federally funded project, but shore protection is needed now before the upcoming season.

"This is the heart and soul of our economy, our beach, our boardwalk and I'll do whatever is necessary in order to protect it," Zampirri said.

According to the mayor, the city already had most of the materials, so the project will cost about $1.5 million.

Construction will take about six weeks, so Zampirri said it is expected to be completed before Memorial Day.