Rebuilt Block of the Ocean City Boardwalk Taking Shape

Work on a $1.1 million project to replace an entire block of the Ocean City Boardwalk continues to make good progress with new pilings now in place.

The entire block between Fifth and Sixth streets had been demolished — with crews removing the decking and substructure in the fall and leaving nothing but sand.

The work is the first phase of what will likely be a seven-year project to completely replace the Ocean City Boardwalk between Fifth and 12th streets. 

City Council voted in June to award a contract to Fred M. Schiavone Construction of Malaga for the phase between Fifth and Sixth streets. The contract calls for replacing the substructure and redecking the boardwalk with an existing stock of southern yellow pine. The contractor is the same one who completed work on the new Welcome Center on the Route 52 causeway.

The city plans to spend $1.4 million each year between 2014 and 2017 as part of its five-year capital plan. 

Bicycle and pedestrian traffic is being detoured off the Boardwalk at Sixth Street, through the parking lot between Sixth and Fifth streets, down an alley connecting Fifth Street and Brighton Place, then back to the Boardwalk at Brighton.

The new decking was built in 12-by-42-foot sections off-site. Because much of it is complete, work on the project could beat an April deadline for completion if favorable weather continues.