City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. announced today that the milling and paving portion of the final phase of the Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project from Tennessee Avenue to Albany Avenue is now scheduled to begin this fall, with an anticipated completion before the end of this year.
The original timeline announced in April called for paving to begin this summer. However, several factors required the schedule to be adjusted, including revisions to the project design, supply chain delays, and a harsh winter following the awarding of the construction contract to South State, Inc last fall. In addition, the City of Atlantic City, the State of New Jersey, and Atlantic City Electric worked collaboratively to finalize a tariff agreement for the corridor’s new lighting system. Under the agreement, Atlantic City Electric will own, operate, and maintain the lighting infrastructure, creating significant long-term savings for Atlantic City taxpayers. During that process, Atlantic City Electric proposed additional improvements to the lighting system, including enhanced fixtures and expanded lighting coverage, which were incorporated into the project.
Contractors had initially planned to postpone paving until next year. However, at the urging of Mayor Small, the construction team agreed to accelerate the schedule by reallocating crews from other projects so paving could be completed this year. To cover costs, the city is utilizing funding remaining from a New Jersey Department of Transportation safety project that came in under budget to construct new sidewalks connecting Atlantic City High School and the Chelsea Heights neighborhood.
The timeline now calls for paving to begin no later than early October, right after Atlantic City’s peak tourism season concludes, and have the work wrapped up in time for the city’s Holiday Parade & Market down Atlantic Avenue on December 12th. Mayor Small emphasized that the delays have never been the result of a lack of funding or the diversion of project funds. No city spending on unrelated initiatives has impacted the paving of Atlantic Avenue.
“To the residents, businesses, and visitors of Atlantic City, I wholeheartedly apologize that this project has taken as long as it has, but I am doing something about it,” said Mayor Small. “It would not be responsible to begin tearing up Atlantic Avenue until all of the necessary underground utility work is complete. However, I can assure you that from this point forward, you are going to see significant progress as we move toward completion. Atlantic Avenue was in horrific condition long before I became mayor, and that will change this year under my watch. I understand how much this project means to Atlantic City’s future, and I am committed to seeing it through.”
“Mayor Small has consistently made public safety and quality of life top priorities, and the reconstruction of Atlantic Avenue directly supports both,” said City of Atlantic City Engineering Director Uzo Ahiarakwe. “Behind the scenes, Mayor Small has done everything possible to keep this project moving despite the many challenges and unforeseen issues that have arisen throughout the process. With the remaining utility work progressing, we are confident the project will continue advancing smoothly through the remainder of the year.”
The Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project includes a comprehensive series of upgrades designed to improve safety, accessibility, and mobility along one of Atlantic City’s most heavily traveled corridors. Improvements include synchronized traffic signals, new surveillance cameras, upgraded pedestrian infrastructure, high-visibility crosswalks, enhanced lighting, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and streetscape enhancements that will improve the corridor’s appearance while supporting continued economic development. The final phase of the project represents a $17.6 million investment, funded through a $10.3 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration, with additional funding provided by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the City of Atlantic City.
The project’s first phase, completed in 2023, included milling and paving, restriping, traffic signal synchronization, lighting replacement, and the installation of fiber optic conduit along Atlantic Avenue from Maine Avenue to Tennessee Avenue, with fiber infrastructure extending to Albany Avenue to support the corridor’s long-term transportation improvements.
When complete, the Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project from Maine Avenue to Albany Avenue will represent a $24.8 million investment in Atlantic City’s infrastructure. It is one of more than $250 million in infrastructure improvements currently underway or committed throughout Atlantic City funded through federal, state, and partner investments.
