Ocean City Nears Completion of Flood Mitigation for Bayfront Community

By MADDY VITALE A flood-mitigation project to protect the bayfront neighborhood of West 17th Street in Ocean City is nearing the finish line. The community is made up of mostly upscale homes accessible by crossing a tiny bridge off of Bay Avenue. But over the years, residents have voiced concerns about flooding. The neighborhood is susceptible to tidal flooding because of its bayfront location and the low-lying topography. That’s where the city’s multi-phase, $1.7 million project comes in. Now nearing completion, the project includes a stormwater pumping station, new drainage lines and roadway and curb improvements. “The final paving is expected to begin next week. Pumps will then be installed in the wells of the floodwater pumping station, and they will be activated before Memorial Day,” said city spokesman Doug Bergen. “Final landscaping can’t take place until that happens.” Bergen added, “These are the last phases of a $1.7 million project to mitigate flooding in one of the most flood-prone neighborhoods in Ocean City, replace all utility and storm drainage lines, fix curbs and concrete, and repave the roadway.” The entrance to the community is over a small bridge. The centerpiece of the project is the stormwater pumping station. The pumping station clears flooding from the neighborhood faster than waiting for the water to recede by itself back into the bay. Over the years, Ocean City has been installing pumping stations throughout the island to reduce flooding. In addition to flooding woes in the area, the water and sewer lines in the West 17th Street neighborhood were also outdated. They dated to the 1950s. But the New Jersey American Water company undertook a $3 million modernization of its water and sewer system. The project includes a wastewater pumping station. The wastewater pumping station has steps leading up to the control panel. It had drawn objections last year from some residents who complained that it was an eyesore. Since then, the wastewater pumping station has been surrounded by trees that are part of the landscaping improvements. Tall trees are planted to obscure the pumping station stairs from view for the homeowners. That is why city officials made landscaping the city's floodwater pumping station a priority, officials have said. The city is planning landscaping improvements around the pumping station in an effort to conceal it. There are also planters in front of the pumping station for further improvements in the project. Improvements can’t come quickly enough for residents in the bayfront community. In April of 2023, the city held a community meeting in the neighborhood. Officials heard from frustrated homeowners over the series of projects that had made the neighborhood “a construction zone.” At the time, Mayor Jay Gillian assured the homeowners that their concerns were heard and that the city would do its best to improve conditions in the community. Many of the homes on West 17th Street are upscale. Paid for by Michael DeVlieger