"I feel a strong sense of relief," Saxton said. "This day has been a long time in coming. We've waited for over 10 years to start the LBI beach project."

Saxton said that the $400,000-$500,000 project is slated to be completed within 45 days.

"While this is a small phase, it could lead to much bigger things," Saxton said. "It may help in acquiring funding in the 2007 budget because the LBI project would be considered as a continuing beach repair project. This is a multi-year project, and I need to look ahead to find ways to keep the funding flowing. The Army Corps of Engineers is already preparing its 2007 budget, and I'd like to see the LBI project stay on schedule."

Saxton obtained $5 million for the LBI project in the fiscal year 2006 budget before Congress. In July, Saxton met with the commander of the USACE, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, and the commander of the Philadelphia District of USACE, Lt. Col. Robert Ruch, to discuss funding for the LBI project.

The initial project will cover an area of damaged dunes and beach in Harvey Cedars along a four-block area. Between Cumberland and Salem Avenues, about 16,000 tons of sand will be dumped onto the beach. The sand will be a medium grain of screened sand that Corps engineers identified as the closest match possible, and will be brought in via trucks from a local quarry, Sahara Sand and Gravel located off Route 9.

The contract uses funds Saxton added to the federal budget over the past two years. The entire LBI construction project could take up to five years to complete. Congress authorized the project for 50 years in 2000. Saxton said that the next phase will be of pumping millions of tons of off-shore sand onto the beach.