OCEAN CITY – While the summertime visitors have returned home, city residents and off-season guests are going to see reconstruction work being done on a 1,700-foot section of the boardwalk over the next several months.
L. Feriozzi Concrete Co., of Atlantic City, was recently awarded a contract for $4,249,200 to replace and repair foundation pilings, sidewalks, the roadway, boardwalk decking, curbs, railings and light fixtures between St. Charles Place and Fifth Street.
George Savastano, the city’s business administrator and city engineer, said the work should begin within the next 30 days, and officials hope it will be completed by Easter 2026, which is April 5.
“This is the last section on the boardwalk that we need to rehab because it’s in bad shape,” Savastano said. “The next sections are not in as bad of shape.”
Over the past 40 years, he said, the wear and tear on the 2.5-mile-long boardwalk has been extensive.
“The decking is very weathered, and there has been extensive deterioration of the pilings,” he said. “We’ll replace the boardwalk with southern yellow pine, the same wood that we’ve used in other sections.”
Southern yellow pine is known for its strength, durability and versatility, making it ideal for a wide range of applications, especially in heavy-duty and exterior settings.
The project is being paid for in part by a $5 million Boardwalk Preservation Grant that will also be used for other future boardwalk repairs, Savastano said.
New decorative lamp posts will match those already installed between Fifth and Twelfth Streets, he said. The new posts will replace lights currently provided by Atlantic City Electric, and will be maintained by the city.
Savastano said the city is “trying to minimize any inconvenience to boardwalk visitors, but that section will be closed during the reconstruction work.”
L. Feriozzi submitted the low bid among the five companies that bid on the project. The company’s bid came in at $3,999,200 with an additional $250,000 contingency added by the city.
