New Belford Pier opens in time for summer
Improvements part of plan for Belford port
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer

The Belford Pier before the $1.1 million reconstruction project.

MIDDLETOWN — The newly refurbished pier at the Belford Ferry Terminal opened to public use recently, just in time for Monmouth County's busy summer boating season.

"Recreational boaters who wish to pick up or drop off passengers at Compton's Creek will find greatly improved access at the reopened pier," Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow said in a press release from the county.

"This project further enhances the county's efforts at the ferry terminal and nearby Bayshore Waterfront Park."

The new pier has a rubber fender system, timber fender piles, a ladder and mooring cleats that permit boats to temporarily dock at the pier for passenger use.

"The pier was in need of repair and there were a lot of things that needed to be fixed," county spokeswoman Laura Kirkpatrick said. "We refortified it by making it more secure and controlling the access points."

The pier reconstruction project consisted of the demolition and removal of the existing deteriorated timber pier and constructing about 210 linear feet of steel sheet pile bulkhead and a 150-foot-long by 10-foot-wide timber pier.

Additionally, the existing public parking lot also serves as an overflow for the Belford Ferry Terminal.

The pier was reconstructed to include new drainage, curb and traffic striping for 42 standard and four handicap-accessible parking spaces. Stamped and colored concrete sidewalk, boat cleat benches and decorative railings also were installed.

Kirkpatrick said that the pier serves as a bulkhead for the port.

Plans and specifications for the project were prepared by T&M Associates, Middletown, on behalf of Monmouth County.

The project was built by J.E. Hannon Inc., trading as Bird Construction of Bayville, at an estimated final contract cost of $1.1 million. The facility reopened to the public for the Memorial Day weekend.

The Middletown Recreation Pier is located at the terminus of Main Street at the entrance to the Belford Ferry in Middletown.

The ferry terminal, completed in 2002, is owned by Monmouth County and leased by NY Waterway, which operates a high-speed ferry service between Belford and Manhattan. The ferry service carries approximately 2,200 daily passengers.

The refurbished pier is part of a larger plan to improve the port and ferry terminal to enhance public access and tourism.

In addition to the terminal, the county created 1,050 parking spaces to meet demand.

The recreation pier is part of the current enhancement projects of the Belford Ferry Terminal that the county hopes will provide more opportunities for public access and tourism.

"As ridership continues to increase, the county is looking at ways to address the growth by determining the most feasible, effective and efficient options to support commutation to New York City," the county's website states.

Some of the items under consideration include an additional ferry berth and more parking."

Also, an educational interpretative center is being planned for the area that the county hopes will highlight and exhibit the region's history and provide water-related educational outreach programs.

Bayfront beach access is envisioned as well as additional pedestrian and bicycle access to the county's nearby Henry Hudson Trail and the Bayshore Waterfront Park.

Construction of the Belford Ferry Terminal pier began Aug. 20, 2008, near the close of the summer season.

Work continued until late November when the project was suspended until April 30. It was completed May 12 in time for the start of the summer season.

Excluding the weather/seasonal-induced break, construction took three and a half months.

The revitalization of the Belford area is also being reviewed as part of Middletown's revitalization plan for the area.

The final document released March 11, formally known as the Economic Feasibility Study and Conceptual Development Plan for the Port of Belford, provides analysis of the existing conditions, a master plan for the future, and implementation strategies for commercial development that would complement and support the local fishing industry.

The aim of the redevelopment plan is to revitalize the struggling fishing industry at the co-op, located on Main Street in Belford.

The 62-page plan outlines development options for a 6-acre tract that is currently owned by the Belford Seafood Co-op and a 9-acre parcel owned by Seaport Associates.

The final plan includes several potential strategies to breathe new life into the port, including expansion and improvement of the existing fishing operations; development of an interactive/discovery center, a marine research center and a full-service inn; open space preservation; and park development.

Contact Jamie Romm at jromm@gmnews.com.