Most New Jersey boardwalks damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy will be rebuilt by Memorial Day weekend.
An Associated Press survey of shore communities that bore the brunt of Sandy found only three where portions of boardwalk won't be open by the traditional start of the summer season.
Seaside Heights expects the main section of its boardwalk to be rebuilt by the holiday, with the rest complete by mid-June. The shore town held a big ceremony two weekends ago when they installed the first piece of the new boardwalk.
"It's a positive step forward, it's a visual reminder that we're on our way back," said Seaside Heights Mayor Bill Akers.
"The excitement is in the air. You feel like it's Christmas," Akers said.
Sea Girt says all but a 300-foot stretch of its nearly mile-long boardwalk will be finished by Memorial Day.
But the town says that work should be done by June 1.
A mile-long stretch of old boardwalk on the southern end of Long Branch won't be rebuilt this year.
But a newer boardwalk and paved promenade that had minimal damage are already open.
