Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster said Monday that work will start in early June and should be complete by July 1 with the possible exception of painting cross-hatching for pedestrian crosswalks.
The plan eliminates 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.
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 recently installed a new user-activiated traffic signal to help bicycles cross the busy Ninth Street gateway, and the city has plans for improvements on the north end of Ocean City.
Advocates say changing West Avenue to two lanes would also help improve a dangerous four-lane crossing for pedestrians on the thoroughfare.
But others have expressed concern that the change would slow summer traffic and possibly push through-traffic onto adjacent Asbury and Central avenues.
The stretch of roadway is maintained by Cape May County and not the City of Ocean City.
Proposed new configuration for West Avenue in Ocean City between 35th and 55th streets includes two buffered bicycle lanes.
