Belmar officials issue a Notice To Proceed on a $6.6 million boardwalk reconstruction project with Piscataway-based Epic Construction. According to Borough Officials, Epic was the lowest bidder in an ambitious project to get the project completed by the summer tourism season. The highest bidder came in at $19.6 million.

In a press release, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said "this is another important milestone in Belmar's aggressive approach to reconstructing the boardwalk by Memorial Day 2013."

The contract calls for financial incentives if Epic meets or exceeds certain bench mark deadlines. It also calls for financial penalties if they don't.

Officials say the new boardwalk, that will replace the one that Hurricane Sandy decimated, will be engineered to 2012 standards, designed to survive hurricanes and ocean surges of similar force.

The borough is also raising money through its buy a board program where contributors can have their names displayed at the beach entrance of their choice.

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