BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

NEWSOMS—Since the first of February, Atlantic Wood in Newsoms has been making and delivering the pilings necessary to rebuilding the Seaside Heights, N.J. boardwalk. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the popular landmark last fall.

“We’re responsible for manufacturing, loading and getting (the pilings) up to them,” said Plant Manager Chet Poland.

Atlantic Wood, which also makes telephone poles, got the job through a public bid, but he could not say what was the price.

The company, which began in 1987 as Atlantic Wood of Savannah, Ga., was also responsible in the summer of 2011 for providing the pilings at the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Cox Wood Industries, based in South Carolina, bought the company in 2012.

Though Poland could not recall the number of deliveries made so far, he did say the company owes another 600 pieces on this particular job. Loading or unloading the 37 pieces per truck takes about 45 minutes apiece. About eight hours after leaving the plant, the driver arrives where the pilings are needed.

“Southern Yellow Pine is all we produce,” he said. The wood is ordered from mills in Virginia and the Carolinas.

The first step to creating the necessary pilings or poles, said Poland is to peel off the bark. Afterward, they’re dried. Then three pieces are put into a 7-foot by 120-foot cylinder and flooded with chemicals to preserve the wood. That process takes about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Though he’s heard no feedback from Seaside Heights, Poland said the company has been meeting expectations.

“Work is going well so far,” said he.