The new $2 million pier on the Jersey Shore that drew controversy after it was built in the shape of a Christian cross — only to close eight months later amid structural concerns — was damaged by rogue waves, an inspection found.
The Ocean Grove pier, which has been closed since mid-December for safety reasons, recently got an up-close inspection by divers from a prominent engineering firm investigating what went wrong.
Three of the pier’s 88 newly-installed pilings were broken by “unusually strong ocean wave action” on separate occasions in October and December, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association said in its most recent update.
“No further damage to the Pier has been observed since that time. Nevertheless, in an abundance of caution, the Pier remains closed until the ongoing investigation as to the cause of that damage has been completed,” the association posted to its website March 7.
A spokesperson for the association told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that there has been no change since that time.
It is unclear if the Monmouth County pier will be opened in time for the summer season.
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association funded the new pier to replace the previous structure that was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy.
The pier’s cross-shaped design drew criticism from some residents who said the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association has inserted too much religious symbolism into spaces used by the public. The camp meeting association owns the pier and the land where the public enters the 500-foot-long structure.
The rebuilt Ocean Grove pier, left, and the structure it replaced, right, which was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. (Andre Malok and Andy Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Andre Malok and Andy Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Divers from the McLaren Engineering Group did an underwater inspection Feb. 15 in an attempt to determine the cause and extent of any damage. McLaren is “conducting additional investigation into the documentation for the design and construction of the Pier,” the association posted to its website.
McLaren will be issuing a report on its findings, the association said. The nationally-known engineering firm’s clients include several high-profile building projects and concert tours by Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones.
The company, which has an office in Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, previously declined comment on its review.
Ocean Grove, a Jersey Shore community with roughly 3,000 residents, is not its own municipality. It is a section of Neptune Township in Monmouth County set aside with a unique charter tied to its roots as a Methodist beach resort founded 150 years ago.
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is paying for the engineering review of the pier, according to Neptune Township officials.
Neptune United, a local advocacy group, raised concerns about the pier’s cross-shaped design before it opened. The group also objected to Ocean Grove’s policy of barring beach access from the boardwalk on Sunday mornings in a summer tradition tied to the community’s religious roots.
A state administrative court judge has scheduled up to five days of court hearings starting April 17 on the beach closure issue. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is challenging an order from the state Department of Environmental Protection to stop using chains and padlocked barriers blocking beach access from its Monmouth County boardwalk or risk fines of up to $25,000 per day.
Stories by Rob Jennings
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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.