Staying on course for his projection to have Belmar open for tourism business by Memorial Day, Mayor Matt Doherty schedules groundbreaking to restore the borough's boardwalk for this Wednesday. And, Governor Christie will join the dignitaries in hard hats and shiny shovels.

Belmar boardwalk after Sandy
Belmar boardwalk after Sandy (YouTube)
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Piscataway-based Epic Construction won the contract to replace the mile-and-a-third stretch that was uprooted by Superstorm Sandy. The company's low bid was $6,600,000, approved in December.

The first piles will be driven around 11 AM at the Fourth Avenue beachfront along Ocean Avenue. Then the clock starts toward completion by the Memorial Day target date.

Doherty initiated a public-donation component to help cover the cost. The Buy A Board campaign reportedly accrued about $250,000 in contributions in a recent count.

Seaside Heights officials haven't actively solicited donations but the storm complicated the boardwalk repair project that had just begun after tourism season 2012 waned.

Ocean Gate officials are taking bids through January 17 for their boardwalk reconstruction project, expecting to approve it by the end of this month for a February start.

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