West Avenue between 35th and 55th streets in Ocean City would be reconfigured to include only two lanes of traffic but add two buffered bicycle lanes under a plan that is expected to be complete by summer.
Cape May County is reviewing plans to reconfigure the four-lane stretch of West Avenue south of 34th Street to include two lanes of traffic and two buffered bicycle lanes.
The restriping project is expected to be complete by summer, according to Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster.
West Avenue is maintained by the county.
The plan would eliminate two lanes of traffic between 35th Street and 55th Street to make room for a bicycle route.
The project will change the road from four lanes of traffic (two in each direction) to two lanes with a center lane for left turns. That will leave room for five-foot bike lanes on each side of the road separated by three-foot buffer zones (see diagram below).
The traffic pattern would be similar to what exists on West Avenue north of 34th Street.
Foster announced the county's timeline to City Council in October.
The reconfiguration is a milestone in a years-long effort to create a safe bicycle route running the length of Ocean City.
An existing bicycle corridor runs along Haven Avenue from Ninth Street to 34th Street. The city has plans for a safe bicycle crossing of the busy Ninth Street gateway and for improvements on the north end of Ocean City.
The city's capital improvement plan proposes spending $200,000 to help make the bike route happen.
Advocates say changing West Avenue to two lanes would also help improve a dangerous four-lane crossing for pedestrians on the thoroughfare.
Some council members expressed concern that the change would slow summer traffic and possibly push through-traffic onto
adjacent Asbury and Central avenues.
Proposed new configuration for West Avenue in Ocean City between 35th and 55th streets includes two buffered bicycle lanes.
