The full length of the Ocean City boardwalk reopened on Thursday, March 10 after completion of a reconstruction project between Plaza Place (just north of Seventh Street) and Eighth Street. Runners and bicyclists are no longer being detoured.
Three phases of a multiyear project to completely rebuild the boardwalk between Fifth Street and 12th Street are now complete.
The project work runs only in the off-season and began at Fifth Street in fall 2013. It will continue from Eighth Street to 10th Street (2016-17), 10th Street to 12th Street (2017-18), and boardwalk ramps between Eighth Street and 12th Street (2018-19).
Sections of decking were constructed off-site and lowered into place by a crane. This method proved efficient in the first three phases of the project. The decking is made from southern yellow pine with a thickness of 3 inches, about twice that of traditional boardwalk planks.
Walters Marine Construction of Ocean View had a $1,888,347 contract to complete the work, which began in October 2015.
New pavilions on the ocean side of the boardwalk at 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th streets are in the permitting stage with the state Department of Environmental Protection. Construction of the pavilions could begin during the next phase of boardwalk reconstruction in the off-season of 2016-17.
