The US Army Corps of Engineers has begun a major beach restoration project in Atlantic City, addressing severe erosion issues that have plagued casino properties along the northern end of the Boardwalk.

Houston-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company secured a $38.2 million contract to deposit 1.2 million cubic yards of sand—equivalent to 120,000 dump trucks—onto Absecon Island's beaches from Atlantic City to Longport.

The project addresses complaints from Ocean, Hard Rock, and Resorts casinos about diminishing beach space since the last restoration in 2020. During peak summer seasons, visitors struggled to find adequate space for beach activities, affecting businesses throughout the area.

Climate change has necessitated more frequent sand replenishment, with intense storm surges accelerating beach erosion. The situation became so dire that Ocean Casino Resort invested over $600,000 in May 2023 to relocate nearly 13,000 tons of sand in front of their property.

The restoration project, expected to complete in January, includes:

• Dredging sand from Absecon Inlet and Atlantic Ocean
• Restoring dunes near Margate City and Longport
• Rebuilding beach access paths and dune crossovers
• Planting dune grass to prevent erosion

This initiative comes at a crucial time for Atlantic City's casino industry, which has seen a 14% decline in gross operating profits during the third quarter of 2024, with year-to-date profits down 9% compared to 2023.

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