Solid sub-boardwalk repair technique scrapped
FEMA says it is too late to change plans for already approved design
The Asbury Park City Council voted Wednesday to move forward with original plan to perform second phase boardwalk reconstruction with traditional methods instead of a new, never-before-used method.
After City Manager Terence Reidy reviewed the plan with the city’s FEMA liaison it was determined a new method would not to be feasible since plans to reconstruct using traditional methods had already been submitted to, and approved by, FEMA for reimbursement. The deadline to submit new proposals has passed, he said.
City officials were all set to authorize the competitive bid process using the traditional method two weeks ago, but were stalled when City Engineer Joe Cunha and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] outlined a construction method for a solid substructure that would increase the fire protection in light of the recent boardwalk fire in Seaside Park. It would have been the first boardwalk nationwide to reconstruct with the new technique, according to Cunha.
Instead of pilings, a “flowable fill” material would be used to form a semi-concrete substructure capped off with southern pine wood laid on top in the same pattern that currently exists, Thomas McDermott, a FEMA mitigation specialist, said at the previous meeting. The council tabled the vote to vet the new proposal before giving consent to go out to bid.
Although Cunha said the new method would save 40 percent in overall construction costs, it would have cost the city much more in the long run since they would have lost the ability to be reimbursed by FEMA.
“After further review, we’ve decided to stick with the traditional method of reconstruction for that section of the boardwalk so as not to cause any jeopardy to already approved FEMA method for reconstructing that section of the boardwalk,” Cunha said.
“If we had listened to those two gentleman, we would have stuck taxpayers with a bill for $800,000,” said Councilman John Moor. Moor had voiced his concerns about the untested new method at the previous meeting.
Phase two reconstruction, from Convention Hall south to First Avenue, finishes post-Sandy repairs that had been rescheduled to take place after the summer season ran its course. The repairs will refortify the structural undercarriage of the boardwalk.
A professional construction administration consultant will be hired to oversee the project on a full-time basis, according to Cunha. The project manager will be paid between $80,000 to $100,000, 90 percent of which will be reimbursed by FEMA, he said.
The city could go out to bid on the project as early as the Nov. 18, Cunha said. A further delay in an already delayed process did not sit well with Moor, who questioned why engineering plans were still not finished.
Cunha said his office is conducting “heavy revisions” to the initial engineering plan, which comprised both phase one and phase two construction as a single project before it was split into two phases.
“We had all summer to get this ready so we could start as soon as we could. We’re blowing some beautiful weather right now,” he said. “It just blows my mind away that this is not ready to go out, and I think we are probably the only town in New Jersey that has not gone out. I don’t know what to say. To me, it’s unacceptable.”
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