Work Begins on Point Pleasant Canal "Passing Lane"

When the Point Pleasant Canal was completed in 1925, no one could have anticipated how the boat traffic would grow in 95 years. Back then, the canal was expected to primarily provide a shortcut for canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, strong swimmers, and bootleggers. With the new canal, it was just a quick, "23 skiddoo!" from the Manasquan River to Barnegat Bay. However, after nearly a century, the venerable canal is having trouble keeping up with the multitude of massive boats that traverse the waterway.

Sue Z. Panama, Assistant to the mayor of Point Pleasant Borough, has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to find a solution to the canal's traffic woes. "We realized that it was not feasible to expand the canal," she said. "The majority of land is too developed for that. But then someone hit upon the idea of creating passing lanes." It was an unusual idea, but Captain Mars Venice, of the Corps of Engineers, said it is not without precedent.

"We've done it before on rivers," said Captain Venice. "If there is some blockage preventing the river traffic from moving, we'll cut into the bank around the obstacle to give boats a way to get through." The idea would work the same on the canal. At certain points, a lane will be cut into the bank creating a lane for faster traffic to get by. Racing boats and fast motorboats would no longer have to wait behind slow moving sailboats. Ms. Panama and Captain Venice estimate that the canal will be able to handle at least 25% more traffic with just two passing lanes added.

Work will begin this week on the first passing lane, and at least one Point Pleasant resident is very excited about it. Mrs. Agnes Badcrumble owns a home right along the new boat lane. "I finally get a waterview!" said Mrs. Badcrumble. "I could never really see the canal from my home, but this new lane thingy they're building is practically right outside my window." She said she's not troubled about the construction noise she will have to endure. "It's not so bad. After a few months they'll be finished and then I'll be able to see the lovely boats up close! I might even be able to sell my famous lemon bars to some of the boaters." 

Ms. Panama couldn't say if the new canal lane will actually increase sales of Mrs. Badcrumble's lemon bars, but she is confident that it will help local boaters. "We are hopeful that by next season we will see a big improvement in boat traffic," she said. "With luck, these improvements will keep our canal moving smoothly for another 95 years."