Contractor Earns Bonus For Completed Belmar Boardwalk

April 26, the Belmar boardwalk was considered "substantially complete" less than five months after Epic Construction drove the first piling into the Hurricane-Sandy ravaged beachfront.

For getting the work done before April 30, the Piscataway contractor earned a bonus written into the project contract: $100,000.

Mayor Matt Doherty and council presented Epic Construction workers with a ceremonial check at last night's council meeting, reading a resolution commending their work.

Belmar maintains it was the first to start and complete its boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy destroyed so many beachfronts along the Jersey Shore. Epic Construction and the borough were aggressive in getting the work done, Doherty said, noting the first piling kicked off the project Jan. 9. The mayor also credited Birdsall Engineering with swift work, even in spite of a recent scandal at the firm as top officials there faced pay-to-play indictments.

Epic would have accrued daily penalties if the contractor failed to complete work before April 30, according to the contract. What's left for the boardwalk? It's skirt, railing, lighting, trailers and benches have to be installed. A plan for a grand reopening May 22 is progressing.