MARGATE – The city’s engineer held a pre-construction meeting with residents Monday, Nov. 24 to let them know what they can expect when the Washington Avenue streetscape project begins on Dec. 1.
About 20 local residents attended the hourlong meeting, which was held at Historic City Hall. City engineer Ed Dennis Jr. and Chief Inspector Michael Iaconelli of Remington & Vernick Engineers, shared information about how the project will impact the neighborhood. Efforts are being made to minimize those disruptions, they said.
The project will be limited to two phases that will be implemented over the next two years. Phase 1 will begin Dec. 1 and last through the spring. The work will pause for the summer months, and Phase 2 will start up in the fall of 2026 and be completed by Memorial Day 2027, Dennis said.
To minimize disruptions, Phase 1 of the project will be done one block at a time, starting with the beach-block to Atlantic Avenue, then Atlantic to Pacific Avenue, followed by Pacific Avenue to Ventnor Avenue. Phase 2 will start in September 2026 at Ventnor Avenue and proceed block-by-block to Amherst Avenue.
The project, which aims to connect the downtown business district with the marina district, includes a dedicated bike lane, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, new curbs and brick paver sidewalks, new street trees, and decorative pedestrian lighting. The project will first address water and sewer infrastructure improvements followed by roadway reconstruction and striping of the roadway.
L. Feriozzi Concrete Company of Atlantic City is the contractor selected to complete the project. The $3.8 million project is being funded in part with $162,000 from the DOT’s Safe Routes to Transit grant program, and $1.5 million from the competitive federal Transportation Alternatives Set Aside program. The remainder is being funded by taxpayers through a bond ordinance.
Dennis said the concrete crew will follow the utility crew and work will be completed one block at a time to minimize disruption of the neighborhood and traffic detours. Residents will be asked to remove their vehicles from the street while crews are working – 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Detours will be listed on the city’s website,” Dennis said, and Feriozzi will notify residents by placing a door hanger at least 48 hours in advance of beginning construction, or whenever the water will be turned off to accommodate replacing the water and sewer lines.
“We are encouraging residents to park outside the work zone,” Dennis said.
Residents questioned the professionals about restoration of driveways, access to businesses, truck deliveries, street trees, lifting pavers and noise.
“It’s a big project and there will be inconveniences and impact,” he said. “The residents will need patience and understanding.”
According to a flyer that will be posted on the city’s website, “The construction project will require patience, planning and adjustments. We understand there will be challenges during construction…”
No work will be done on weekends; access to homes and businesses will be managed on a case-by-case basis and detour information will be posted; access for emergency vehicles, trash and recycling collection and mail deliveries will be maintained.
Dennis said temporary off-street parking will be provided by Shore Condominiums on Atlantic Avenue as a courtesy to neighbors, but arrangements are not affiliated with Margate and must be made with the condominium association by emailing [email protected].
All properties will be video recorded prior to work starting to make a record of the condition of private properties in advance of work being done. Any suspected damage should be reported immediately to Iaconelli by calling 609-833-1707.
“If there is any damage, please call Mike right away,” Dennis said. “The contractor is responsible for any property damage.”
The engineering firm and contractor will work to maintain access to the Wawa store on Ventnor and Washington Avenues.
“We will do everything we can to maintain access to Wawa,” Dennis said.
A Wawa representative indicated she would try to arrange tractor-trailer deliveries early or late in the day.
One resident asked what would be done to prevent teens from lifting the pavers out of the sidewalk and using them as projectiles that could harm people or property. Police Chief Matthew Hankinson said he would be happy to speak to the residents about public safety issues involving teens.
Another ongoing project that could impact the streetscape project is the lead water service line project that aims to replace all lead or galvanized steel water service lines from the street to the house.
“That’s a separate project but it will be conducted simultaneously by a separate contractor,” Dennis said. “We want South State to replace the pipes before the paver sidewalks go in.”
He said only three properties between Atlantic and Ventnor avenues have been identified as needing their lines replaced. Other properties have yet to be identified as having lead service lines. Residents should check the instructions posted here to find out how they can learn if they have lines that contain lead or galvanized steel.
Another project to install a pump station next to the pier at Amherst and Washington avenues to drain stormwater during high tides is currently in the design phase, Dennis said. The project needs to be approved by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and is likely not to start until fall of 2026.
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