Ocean City Paves Way For First Road Project in Capital Plan

By MADDY VITALE Ocean City is getting ready to begin its first project in the capital improvement plan, which will improve drainage and include repaving of streets. “Weather permitting, the project will begin early next week,” Michael Allegretto, aide to Mayor Jay Gillian, said in an interview on Tuesday. New siphon drains will be installed in the area from 26th to 34th Street along West Avenue and 29th Street from West to Wesley Avenues and 31st Street from West to Wesley Avenues, Allegretto said. In addition to road paving and replacement of the siphon drains, Allegretto said the project also entails concrete work for the gutters along the edge of the streets to help with the drainage, including the corner drains as well as some sidewalk work. A portion of Seventh Street and West Avenue will be repaved. The $1.3 million contract also includes a small paving job at Seventh Street and West Avenue. The goal is for the work to be completed by the end of the year. “This is the first city project to kick off the fall project season,” Allegretto pointed out. In August, the city unveiled its proposed five-year, $141.2 million capital plan during a City Council meeting. The capital plan serves as a broad blueprint for road construction, flood-mitigation projects, dredging work and other infrastructure improvements from 2021 to 2025. While the city is looking to federal funding for some of the work, the projects lined up for this year have been bonded for. The area of 26th Street and West Avenue will be improved. The portion of the capital plan that includes road construction and flood-mitigation projects for this year totals $16 million for paving, drainage and flood-mitigation work throughout town. In the spring, the water and gas companies did all of their improvements, allowing the city to follow up with its projects. “Any time the city undergoes any street project, the first priority of the mayor is to improve the drainage, too,” Allegretto noted. “This ties in with the goal of improving infrastructure with drainage projects.” This area at 29th Street and West Avenue shows areas in need of repaving.