WILDWOOD – It’s almost a dream: a non-flooding Rio Grande Avenue by George Redding Bridge with a center turn lane so that traffic freely flows.
At an Oct. 2 public information session hosted by the Cape May County Engineer’s Office at Wildwoods Convention Center, the $10-million Rio Grande Gateway Project was explained in detail.
Aided by some virtual video displays, the public could learn how the floodwaters presently affect the street and adjacent roads.
The problem will be fixed when the project is completed, and that County Engineer Dale Foster anticipates will be by Memorial Day 2019.
It’s an “exciting project” he told freeholders Sept. 26. Included will be raising Rio Grande Avenue about 3 feet from the George Redding Bridge to just past the Wawa food market, not the entire length of the project to Park Boulevard.
Wildwood, armed with a $2-million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, will install a pump whose generator must be elevated 14 feet and will be hidden by a landscaped, mock-boardwalk and tramcar facade at the northwest corner of Rio Grande and Susquehanna avenues, where John’s Tire and Auto was prior to being bought by the county.
Also included will be Doo-Wop-style signs with Wildwoods spelled as it is on the eastern end of Rio Grande Avenue at the Boardwalk placed on a surfboard-like sign.
“This will add to the “wow” factor going into Wildwood,” said Foster.
“The goal is to reduce traffic congestion,” said Foster. The work is not all for motor vehicles, Foster said but also to enhance bicycle use.
The bridge and road were closed for three hours Sept. 20 as a hurricane whipped seawaters higher than normal. Foster reminded freeholders of that situation as the latest evidence why the gateway project is needed for public safety reasons.
By elevating the road 3 feet, Foster said that should raise it to a 10-year-storm level.
Foster lauded Wildwood and the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Agency (GWTIDA) for working with the county to move the project.
“This is the way a project like this should go,” said Freeholder Will Morey.
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