Atlantic City is investing $50 million in repairing their canal and boardwalk. The canal project includes installation of new pumps to manage stormwater and prevent flooding, while the boardwalk is receiving a $25 million facelift to ensure resilience against future storms. The improvements aim to enhance safety and convenience for residents and visitors alike.
Ed Lea, City of Atlantic City photo
The planks and support for the Atlantic City boardwalk are being replaced or fixed.
Atlantic City, N.J., hosts approximately 23 million visitors each year and offers a boardwalk that stretches for approximately 4 mi., providing an expansive view of the Atlantic Ocean and comfortable access to the city's hotels, casinos and entertainment.
In contrast, a 10,000-ft.-long canal under Baltic Avenue holds water from storms and neighborhood runoff. With the storms becoming more frequent and the shoreline eroding, the canal has become more important than ever.
The city has begun two major projects to bring a new sheen and safety for both the boardwalk and canal. These projects, taken together at nearly $50 million, will bring new convenience to the city's waterfront.
Century-Old Canal
Built in 1912, the Baltic Ave. canal has been holding water like a gargantuan swimming pool, a pool capable of holding 1.1 million cu. ft. of water. After storms pass, the water is slowly released.
Jim Rutala, grant consultant of the city, secured funding for the project. The main contractor of the operation is Richard E. Pierson Construction of Pilesgrove, N.J.
The canal under Baltic Avenue is connected to the city's storm drains.
Ed Lea, City of Atlantic City photo
"With rising sea levels and high tides, we needed a more sophisticated system to manage stormwater," said Rutala.
The city has a $22 million package to install six new pumps to push water out of the canal and into an inlet in the back bay area. Each of the devices will produce 67 cfs per pump.
"This project is going to reduce flooding and greatly improve the quality of life for residents from the expressway to the inlet area," said Rutala. "We anticipate it being completed by the end of 2025."
The canal is large enough to drive a truck through. In the 1960s, the wooden flood gates were destroyed by vandalism and fire. At that time, the gates were opened and closed by a hand-cranked system.
"The new metal flood gates will effectively close the canal and keep the water contained. The new canal will be equipped with mechanical screening devices and two emergency generators for use when power is out. The city will have a remote-control system installed, which will allow city engineers to control devices from anywhere."
Building the new system has required patching the old concrete, plus constructing massive concrete foundations and connecting tunnels for the new pumps to do their work. Construction workers excavated material to make room for the foundations, then drove the pilings to support the new foundations. Concrete pumping trucks delivered concrete for the foundations.
Five Hundred-Year Flood Level
"All of these systems are designed to be elevated above the 500-year flood level," said Rutala. "In the past when water rose, the water in the neighborhood had nowhere to go. With the new system in place, water will drain into the canal and keep flooding to a minimum."
When water drains into the canal, inevitably it drags unwanted material with it.
"The new system has six screening mechanisms that will keep out those problems. These devices will prevent trash from entering the system and not be released into the water."
When a construction team is rehabbing 100-year-old infrastructure, workers are bound to find surprises. In this case, construction activity was adjacent to an old oil depot. Of course, there was contamination. Fortunately, the former owners paid to have the contaminants removed.
"I believe the new system and the construction being completed will deliver an improved quality of life for Atlantic City's residents and visitors," said Rutala. "Nobody likes to see water standing in the streets on a sunny day. The new pumps and canal will take care of that. It is encouraging for residents when they see the city making investments that should make the city a better place to live."
With these repairs finishing this year, the boardwalk is getting its own $25 million facelift. Workers are busy replacing the wooden boards and fixing the columns underneath. The work is expected to be completed by 2026.
Ed Lea, City of Atlantic City photo
The first installment of work will stretch from South Bellevue Avenue to Columbia Place with the second phase will continue from New Jersey Avenue to Tennessee Avenue. Mayor Marty Small and his team emphasized that this work will help the boardwalk remain resilient when future storms come.
"We also want to thank our important partners in this work," said Small. "Without those key relationships, we would not be able to afford these important repairs." CEG
(All photos courtesy of Ed Lea, City of Atlantic City.)
Chuck MacDonald
Chuck MacDonald is an editor, blogger and freelance feature writer whose writing adventures have taken him to 48 states and 10 countries. He has been the editor for magazines on pavement construction, chemicals, insurance and missions. Chuck enjoys bicycling, kayaking and reading. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. Chuck lives in Annapolis, Md. with his wife Kristen. They have seven grandchildren.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckmacdonald/ Read more from Chuck MacDonald here.
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