WILDWOOD CREST – The board of commissioners introduced a $4.5 million bond ordinance Wednesday, Oct. 18, with most of that amount, $3.5 million, to be dedicated to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of back bay bulkheads and outfall lines.

Borough Administrator Connie Mahon said the project includes 10 bulkheads that are being “refreshed,” but not raised, at this time.

“We are replacing the facades of bulkheads. They look terrible,” she said.

Mahon said 10 streets will have tide valves replaced, the street raised, and the bulkhead refreshed for a better appearance. She said another 10 bulkheads on the north side are getting tide valves and streets raised “where necessary.” The bulkheads with a concrete façade will not be refreshed.

“This should mitigate flooding issues,” she said.

Mahon said some of the tide flex valves, which are designed to close during high tide, were failing and will be replaced.

She said the borough engineer is working on the details, and the project should go out to bid in November.

The bond ordinance also covers the installation of foot showers and benches, and the upgrade of beach walkways. Mahon said this work will occur north of Rambler Road. She said the borough cannot install street end bump-outs, as was done in the south side.

“We can’t put decks there, but we will install new foot showers and bench areas in lieu of creating bump-outs as we did in the past,” she said.

Mahon said that the foot showers will be ADA-compliant and that the project has been approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Some $675,000 is included in the bond ordinance for various roadway improvements, and $325,000 for a new ambulance and its equipment. The ambulance was already purchased under an emergency appropriation and now has to be funded.

Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.