Dear Friends,
We were fortunate that Hurricane Jose passed by Ocean City without coming too close, and the long-range forecasts predict the same for Hurricane Maria. We’re also very lucky that the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract to rebuild beaches at the north end of the island later this fall. The work will not take place until after these tropical storms have moved on. That means that any sand lost to some of the rough surf and high tides we’ve experienced will be restored. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company has a contract to complete work between Seaspray Road and 14th Street. A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for next week, and I will update you on the project timeline after the meeting.
Work on the drainage project in the Fourth Ward is going well. As crews continue to replace the aging network of storm pipes, residents should begin to see a noticeable difference in how quickly the streets drain. The addition of pumping stations will only help more. Anybody interested in following the weekly progress of the work can visit www.ocnj.us/projectupdate.
Finally, I want to remind you all that the route for the Bike MS: City to Shore Ride tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 23) will move to the Route 52 causeway this year. I still believe that the traditional route using the Ocean City-Longport Bridge is by far the safest and least disruptive way to bring so many cyclists into town, but I do understand the concerns for public safety shared by other municipalities along the route, and I do remain fully supportive of the charity ride and its important mission in supporting MS research.
The riders will come into town on the Ninth Street Bridge and use Bay Avenue to Fifth Street to reach the traditional finish line at the boardwalk parking lot at end of Fifth Street. One inbound lane of the Route 52 causeway will be closed. Other detours will be at 10th Street and Bay Avenue (for northbound traffic), 8th Street and Bay Avenue (southbound), 4th Street and Ocean Avenue (southbound), 6th Street and Ocean Avenue (northbound), 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue (southbound) and 7th Street and Atlantic Avenue (northbound). The eastbound lane of Sixth Street will be closed at Atlantic Avenue. Fifth Street will be closed from Ocean Avenue to the boardwalk. The detours will be in effect starting at 9:30 a.m.
Ocean City also will be host to the OCNJ Half Marathon on Sunday, and the Ocean City-Longport Bridge will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (if not earlier) to accommodate a field of more than 1,000 runners.
I thank you in advance for your patience during these events. If possible, plan alternative routes to avoid delays and to help provide a safe route for these event participants.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
