By Maddy Vitale
Pat McWilliams and her daughters, Joan and Rose, from Drexel Hill, Pa., enjoyed a brisk morning stroll on the Boardwalk at 10th Street in Ocean City on Friday.
“We are down for the weekend and we are trying out the new boards,” Pat McWilliams said, as they walked along the new, light-color and clean planks, which had a fresh smell. “It is beautiful,” she said.
The McWilliams family wanted to take in some sights on a relaxing walk on the new boards that stretch from Fifth Street to 10th Street. Several other walkers, a few bicyclists and some joggers decided to take in the scenery. Others sat on benches and watched the waves and a lone paddle boarder who was off in the distance on the calm waters.
The Boardwalk reconstruction project is nearing the end of a multi-year project costing a total of $10 million. The final phase, being done now, includes the stretch of Boardwalk between 10th and 12th streets. The area between Fifth and 10th streets was rebuilt in the last four years. And officials said it is only a matter of a couple of weeks, until all the Boardwalk will be installed.
After that, workers will be completing the new pavilion, reinstalling railings and lampposts, and doing finish work, which should take the project to March, officials said.
“All construction projects are dependent on weather, equipment and a number of other variables, so I can’t say when it will be complete,” Ocean City’s spokesman Doug Bergen said. “But they’re in good shape to meet their end-of-March deadline.”
The decking on the final block of the project at 12th Street is already in place. Workers from Fred M. Schiavone Construction Inc., of Malaga, N.J., the Boardwalk’s construction contractor, were busy on Friday doing work on the Boardwalk. The block between 10th Street and 11th Street opened on Jan. 20, though the 11th Street entrance remains closed. That provides beach access for heavy equipment. Workers were putting the last sections of decking in place Friday.
Boardwalk businesses have dealt with some inconveniences due to the project. While some businesses are seasonal, there are many that operate year-round.
Ianos Gadzsa, an employee at Steel’s Fudge, 10th Street and the Boardwalk, looked out the window and remarked about the progress on the Boardwalk project.
“It wasn’t bad. I mean it did affect our business a little, but we are lucky we have a side door. That helped us,” Gadzsa, of Ocean City, said. “It will be good when they are done, and the weather is warmer.”
Roger Rinck, manager of engineering and construction for the City’s Engineering Division, said the project is ahead of schedule.
He noted that the temporary railing put up was for the many people who like walking the boards.
“The most important thing is safety. That is why we put up the temporary railing. We wanted people to continue to walk through and the railing was just put there for safety,” Rinck explained.
Rinck said Schiavone Construction has worked well with the city to bring the project to near completion. “Our contractor is very understanding. He knows people are up here no matter what, and he really understands about safety.”
Rinck said that he, along with other city officials, meet to go over the progress of the project. “We all meet every couple of weeks,” he said.
Rinck detailed how the Boardwalk was assembled off site and installed in a way that was more efficient and provided a better product because workers didn’t have to worry about the elements and other variables.
“That is how we get it done,” Rinck said. “We are ahead of schedule.”
Carlo DeFeo, a carpenter and foreman from Schiavone Construction, said it has really been great working with the city on the Boardwalk project.
“It has been a lot of fun,” DeFeo said. “The city has really worked with us. We are full steam ahead and right where we want to be.”
