Stretch of Central Avenue to Undergo Reconstruction

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Following up on a project that began in 2021, Sea Isle City is preparing for the next major phase of Central Avenue’s reconstruction. City Council is expected to approve a resolution at its meeting Tuesday to solicit bids to reconstruct Central from 56th Street to 69th Street. In the fall of 2021, the city repaved a stretch of Central Avenue from 69th Street to 84th Street under a nearly $500,000 contract. The cost and timetable for Central’s reconstruction between 56th and 69th streets will be known after bids are reviewed by the city and a contract is awarded. Sea Isle usually follows a policy of doing major road projects during the quiet off-season months to avoid any conflicts during the bustling summer tourism season. “In accordance with our typical practice, during the summer season we try to limit the amount of construction taking place on public property in order to minimize the disruption to our residents and visitors, as for many this time of the year is precious,” the city said in a statement. A rock wall that overlooks the marshlands at 29th Street and Central Avenue serves as a barrier against floodwater. Road projects such as Central Avenue’s reconstruction are a key part of the city’s strategy to protect low-lying neighborhoods from flooding. During another road project in 2022, the city built rock walls along Central Avenue from 29th Street to 38th Street to prevent floodwater from seeping in from the marshlands. The waist-high rock walls, also known as berms, act as the first line of defense against flooding that comes from both the bay and the marshlands surrounding Sea Isle’s residential neighborhoods. Although they are decidedly low tech, rock walls are combined with other measures such as stormwater pumping stations to help ease flooding in Sea Isle and other beach communities at the Jersey Shore. Sea Isle built its first stormwater pumping station in 2019 at the bay end of 38th Street at Sounds Avenue to protect surrounding homes. Rock walls were built along both sides of 38th Street as an extra precaution against floodwater surging out of the marshlands and bay.