Bay Avenue has been closed at two different spots this week as a Cape May County road project continues.
Traffic on the well-traveled north-south thoroughfare in Ocean City has been detoured on either side of Ninth Street as work crews complete drainage and concrete work.
Crews are installing drainage pipes near 11th Street and pouring concrete near Seventh Street.
The work is part of a $3.3 million project to install new storm pipes and drains, to rebuild gutters and sidewalks, and to repave the county road between Sixth and 18th streets.
Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster said Thursday that the county’s goal is to complete all work before the end of the calendar year.
Work between Sixth and Ninth streets is expected to be complete in November — with crews pouring concrete sidewalks and gutters now in advance of final paving work.
Work between Ninth and 13th streets is expected to be complete sometime in December. He said drainage work between Ninth and 11th streets will continue for a couple weeks, followed by concrete work, then repaving. Drainage and concrete work typically involve closing both lanes of traffic, he said.
Work between 13th and 18th streets was completed in the spring.
The project began in February and was originally scheduled to be complete before the summer, but work was delayed by a snowy winter and utility work as New Jersey American Water Company (NJAWC) replaced water mains in advance of the repaving work.
Work ceased during the peak summer traffic months in Ocean City and resumed in September.
The county road was marked by potholes and makeshift repairs from utility companies digging into the roadway. But the construction work has created delays and detours since the project began earlier this year. All Bay Avenue businesses near the construction remain open.
