Ocean City Boardwalk undergoing $4.2 million facelift in north end

Where the Ocean City Boardwalk once stretched over the dunes from St. Charles Place to Fifth Street, only a skeletal frame remains – scattered supports, piles of wooden rubble and splintered boards crushed into the sand by heavy construction equipment.

The removal of the Boardwalk for this span is the first step in a multimillion-dollar renovation of the northern end of Ocean City’s most popular manmade attraction.

The $4.2 million project is being funded by a grant from New Jersey’s $100 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund.

Renovations will include new foundation pilings, decking, stairs and railings, along with ADA-compliant entry ramps designed to improve access to the Boardwalk. The upgrades will not increase the Boardwalk’s width.

“Crews are working on this section from the ground up, removing old decking, replacing structural supports and ensuring every access ramp is fully ADA-compliant, so all residents and visitors can safely enjoy Ocean City’s most iconic landmark,” Mayor Jay Gillian said in a video posted to Facebook by OCNJ Biz.

The reconstruction of the Boardwalk from Second Street to Fifth Street continues to make good progress with demolition nearly complete. The project remains on track to be finished before the end of March, Gillian said.

Henry Dimmick, a longtime Ocean City resident and frequent Boardwalk visitor, said it feels strange to be on the beach without the familiar stretch of boards along the dunes.

Still, he said he appreciates the city’s efforts to keep the Boardwalk in good condition.

“Somebody has to pay attention to everything here in town, including the Boardwalk,” Dimmick said. “The Boardwalk was old in this section and has taken a lot of damage over the years. It’s good to take care of the Boardwalk.  I think it keeps the town alive.”

On a recent day, Dimmick said he watched the Boardwalk demolition for hours, calling it an impressive process.

Crews cut the decking into sections, then hauled it to Fourth Street to be demolished and loaded onto trucks.

Only small sections of the Boardwalk are still standing, surrounding where the light poles exist.

    Demolition of the Boardwalk from Second Street to Fifth Street is nearly done, Mayor Jay Gillian says.
  

As part of the renovation project, the existing Atlantic City Electric lights will be replaced with decorative pole lighting, which will be maintained by the city.

City Business Administrator George Savastano said the new Boardwalk light poles will look similar to those in the downtown shopping district.

“Managing the system directly will allow the city to keep the Boardwalk well-lit and beautifully maintained year-round,” Gillian said of the lighting.

Ocean City residents T.O. and Elsie Epps walked to Fifth Street and the Boardwalk recently to check out the construction site. They said they’re glad the project is underway and described the view of the torn-up boards as remarkable.

“The Boardwalk was in bad shape and needed to be repaired, so we’re happy this is happening,” T.O. Epps said.

“We’ve been coming here for over 30 years. We’ve seen the Boardwalk under repair, but only a few boards at a time,” Elsie Epps noted. “We’ve never seen a total renovation like this before.”

    Ocean City residents Elsie and T.O. Epps watch the construction behind a fence.
  

The construction contractor, L. Feriozzi Concrete Co., is scheduled to complete the project by next spring, in time for the start of the tourism season

Gillian said the second phase of the project, renovating the Boardwalk from 14th Street to 16th Street, will begin following summer 2026.

Ocean City is one of the shore communities that are either planning or have started the reconstruction or improvement of their boardwalks or promenades with the help of funding from the state’s $100 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund. Ocean City received nearly $4.9 million in funding.

Other shore towns in Atlantic and Cape May counties that are benefiting from the Boardwalk Preservation Fund include Atlantic City, $20 million; North Wildwood, $10.3 million; Wildwood, $8.3 million; Ventnor, $7.1 million; Cape May, $6.7 million; Sea Isle City, $2 million; Brigantine, $1.2 million; and Wildwood Crest, $1.1 million.

Examples of projects include replacement of old and crumbling decking along the boardwalk with resilient, longer-lasting materials; replacement of deteriorating pilings and boardwalk infrastructure; improving access and safety by building ADA-compliant ramps and railings; and expanding an existing section of the boardwalk.

    The Boardwalk's support pilings are also being replaced in the north end.