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Reconstruction of a southern portion of the Asbury Park boardwalk is coming along right on schedule, according to City Engineer Joe Cunha.

Workers started to install decking on the southernmost section where pilings have already been placed [shown above] and will continue over the newly placed pilings in the days ahead, he said.

Staten Island-based Reicon Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Reinauer Transportation Companies, LLC, was awarded the contract for phase two construction. They began work at the end of January and should be wrapped up near the end of April. The contract stipulates the work must be finished within a 90-day period from project commencement or the company will be forced to pay fines every day it extends beyond the time frame.

FEMA OK’d the city for $4.5 million in Sandy aid funds last year for repairs to the southern boardwalk, from Convention Hall to the Casino Building. The project was subsequently split into two phases so boardwalk businesses would not be affected when the warmer weather arrived and tourists started to head to the city. Phase one, from the Casino building north to a few feet past the First Avenue Pavilion, was completed last May.

A separate project funded by the state’s Economic Development Authority will see the old highway-style light fixtures with updates poles and energy efficient LED lights on the entire stretch of the city’s boardwalk, both north and south of Convention Hall.

Plans for that separate project have not been announced yet.

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