West Rio Grande Avenue to Be Raised, Revamped for Quicker Island Exit

CREST HAVEN – Mayors of Wildwood and North Wildwood gave initial thumbs-up to a conceptual traffic plan for Rio Grande Avenue that would make leaving the island easier as well as address persistent flooding of the island’s main artery.
The Five Mile Island’s four mayors had been invited to the 3 p.m. caucus, only Wildwood’s Ernie Troiano and North Wildwood’s William Henfey attended.
County Engineer Dale Foster, at the Tue., July 24 freeholder caucus, explained the design done by engineers McCormick and Taylor as “helping with traffic exiting the Wildwoods. There are four plans for Old Rio Grande Avenue to Susquehanna Avenue.”
According to Anthony DiMaggio, of that engineering firm said the section of roadway is controlled by the state Department of Transportation, and that the county and firm are arranging a meeting with DOT to discuss how the plan may be implemented. It is possible that the county could take over a section of the state road. He added the county applied for funds from South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization to reduce congestion and upgrade air quality, but that funding has yet to win approval.
Foster said the question that will be asked by the DOT as well as freeholders, regarding how the project will be funded.
The county is in the process of purchasing the former John’s Tire, on the northwest corner of Rio Grande and Susquehanna Avenue, said Director Gerald Thornton. When that purchase goes through, Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano told the board there are several garages on the property that could be used to store barricades,
A wide right-hand turn proposed would take up about a quarter of the present building, and would permit more traffic westbound on West Taylor Avenue.
Also as part of the project, the roadway would be raised to eliminate flooding, although it cannot be raised too high due to present structures along the roadway, Foster said.
Troiano said he had gone to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in an attempt to secure $3.5-million for a pump station to cure the flooding problem in the area. On a scale of one to 10, Troiano said the city’s rating in the federal program was 7.5.
That problem often takes place on high tides when the moon is full and when a storm is near. The flooding closes Rio Grande Avenue, and while the George Redding Bridge is routinely closed when such flooding takes place, frequently the state DOT does not notify motorists at Garden State Parkway in Rio Grande, causing them to drive east to the bridge only to be turned away at the base of the bridge.
That results in numerous irate telephone calls to City Hall, said Troiano.
There are other facets of the plan which actually incorporates two proposals by McCormick and Taylor, plans C and D.
Tom Byrne, chairman of Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, told the board he was “Excited you have taken an interest in the Rio Grande Avenue corridor.”
He added that GWTIDA had hired Rich Stokes to make recommendations for aesthetics to make the Rio Grande Avenue entrance into Wildwood “more eye appealing.” Byrne added the authority could act as a liaison between property owners in the area and the county to secure easements and right of way from the owners to get the project moving.
Thornton lauded the efforts of Freeholder Will Morey who “brought this project to the board’s attention.”
Foster said before any plans were finalized public sessions would be held to gain input from all concerned parties and property owners in the affected area.