Green Light for $17.6 Million Atlantic Avenue Construction in Atlantic City

For years, the plan to rebuild Atlantic Avenue, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares — was stalled by lawsuits, federal grant reviews, and shifting political priorities in Washington. On Thursday, city leaders said those roadblocks have finally been cleared.

Mayor Marty Small Sr., joined by Representative Jeff Van Drew and other city officials, announced that the reconstruction of Atlantic Avenue from Tennessee to Albany Avenues will go out for bid on Aug. 19, with work expected to begin in October.

The $17.6 million project, part of a $24.8 million, multi-phase overhaul of Atlantic Avenue, is funded by a $10.3 million Federal Highway Administration grant, along with New Jersey Department of Transportation grants and city funds. The federal grant was first approved in November 2021, but the release of funds was delayed for more than two years, most recently until this spring, when Mr. Van Drew pressed for action in Trenton and Washington.

“This is about more than just fresh pavement, it’s an investment in safety and quality of life for our residents,” Mr. Small said. “In government, sometimes things get in the way beyond our control. But this administration kept fighting the good fight for the taxpayers of Atlantic City.”

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A Test of Persistence and Partnership

Both men described the process as a test of patience and political will, involving regular phone calls, coordination across agencies, and an unusual degree of bipartisan cooperation in a polarized era.

“This project has been a bumpy ride and a rough road, but it’s finally going to get done,” said Mr. Van Drew, a Republican whose district includes Atlantic City. “Infrastructure shouldn’t be political. It’s about doing the right thing, getting it done, and working together for future generations.”

Mayor Small, a Democrat, underscored that point with a line from the late Atlantic City political figure Ernest Coursey: “Every Democrat ain’t my friend, and every Republican is not my enemy.”

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A Corridor Rebuilt

The funding will pay for resurfacing the roadway, upgrading traffic signals, adding ADA-compliant ramps, installing more than 200 decorative pedestrian lights, and improving signage. The upgrades aim to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and accessibility, while also beautifying the corridor to support local businesses and encourage redevelopment.

The work is expected to take up to 24 months, with a pause during the winter. A previous phase, completed in fall 2023, repaved and restriped Atlantic Avenue from Maine to Tennessee Avenues, replaced lighting, and installed fiber-optic conduit from Tennessee to Albany.

More Than Asphalt

City officials said the Atlantic Avenue improvements are part of a broader strategy to use infrastructure upgrades as a foundation for new development. Jim Rutala, the city’s planning consultant, noted that synchronized traffic signals, a long-sought goal on both Atlantic and Pacific Avenues, will make the corridor more appealing to investors.

“Once the development community knows the infrastructure is in place, other things start to happen,” Mr. Rutala said, pointing to planned projects including a full-service supermarket at Renaissance Plaza, the conversion of a former office building into housing, and the redevelopment of the city’s historic Armory into apartments and a public market.

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Other Projects on Deck

The announcement also served as an update on several other infrastructure projects:

• Pacific Avenue Signal Optimization Project: Starting next week, the city will upgrade 35 intersections with new hardware, vehicle detection systems, and seven miles of fiber-optic cable. Road resurfacing will follow conduit and junction box installation.
• Baltic Avenue: Milling and paving from Maine to Missouri Avenues will begin Aug. 21, along with new curbs and sidewalks.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: Full reconstruction from Mediterranean Avenue to Route 30 is scheduled to begin this fall.

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For Mr. Small, each project reflects a commitment to steady, visible improvements. “This is another box checked under the Small administration,” he said. “We are bullish on infrastructure and will continue to make it a great day in the City of Atlantic City.”

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