Mayor's Update: April 20

Dear Friends, I know it seems impossible to drive anywhere in Ocean City this month without running into a road construction project. The amount of work this spring has been truly exceptional.  We’re combining an already ambitious schedule of road improvements with two major neighborhood drainage projects. At the same time, the utility companies are upgrading their infrastructure, and Cape May County is working on redecking the 34^th Street Bridge and replacing the W. 17^th Street Bridge. Four nor’easters in March pushed back the start of many of these jobs, and most work is scheduled to be complete by Memorial Day. That leaves a little window for a lot of construction. I want to thank all of you for your patience and understanding as this work gets completed. By summer, we’ll be traveling on smoother roads with vastly improved drainage. In the meantime, I’ll try to update you on what we can expect in the coming weeks. Please understand that all construction schedules are contingent on weather and other variables.

• 34^th Street Bridge: Cape May County is working on the final resurfacing of the bridge. The project remains on schedule to be complete by May 1.
• Fourth Ward Drainage Project: Paving of the avenues (Simpson and Haven) is expected to begin Wednesday. The numbered streets will follow and should be complete by Memorial Day. Paving of alleys and activation of pumping stations will continue into the summer.
• North End Drainage Project: Crews are working to replace the drainage system on Second Street and will move next to Fourth Street. This project will extend into the 2018-2019 off-season.
• Bay Avenue: Detours will be in effect mid-week near the Ocean City Municipal Airport as the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority restores the roadway after a sewer main repair.
• Wesley Avenue and Waterway Road: On Saturday (April 21), South Jersey Gas work will require detours on the 2200, 2500 and 3500 blocks of Wesley Avenue and on Waterway Road between Bay Avenue and Bayland Drive. Each block should be detoured for only two to three hours, and not all blocks will be closed at once.
• East Atlantic Boulevard, North Street and First Street: Paving in this area will begin on Monday and is expected to be complete by May 17.
• Wesley Road and Wesley Avenue: Repaving of the stretch between Battersea Road and First Street is awaiting South Jersey Gas work but will be complete by the end of May.
• 34^th Street: Utility company upgrades are complete and road will be repaved before Memorial Day.
• 46^th Street and 47^th Street: We expect work to begin the week of April 30 on emergency repair work to the sanitary sewer system from West Avenue to Asbury Avenue and on the 4600 block of the West/Asbury alley.  Warm regards,
•  Thanks again for you patience, and I hope you all have a great weekend.

These are just some of the projects in the works. I’m confident that the final product – rebuilt roads, a new storm drainage system and upgraded utilities – will be well worth the short-term sacrifices. I will continue to provide weekly updates and information is always available at www.ocnj.us/projects. Thanks again for your patience, and I hope you all have a great weekend. Warm regards, Jay A. Gillian Mayor