Atlantic Avenue Paving Project to Begin This Fall, Atlantic City Mayor Says

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small says long-delayed improvements to Atlantic Avenue remain on track to begin paving this fall, with the project expected to be completed before the city's annual Christmas Parade in December.

During an appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND, Small said construction delays were not the result of mismanagement but stemmed largely from design changes requested by Atlantic City Electric and the realities of coordinating a major infrastructure project.

"There was no ball dropped," Small said. "This was construction. There's always delays."

According to the mayor, Atlantic City Electric requested changes after reaching an agreement with the city and state to assume responsibility for the corridor's street lighting. The revised plans added decorative lighting throughout the project, requiring additional engineering and contributing to delays.

Small said the city was initially informed paving could be pushed into next year, a timeline he rejected.

"I said absolutely not. That is not acceptable. We won't tolerate that," Small said.

Following discussions with contractor South State Inc., the company agreed to shift resources and begin paving this fall instead.

The city expects paving to start by late September or early October, with the entire project completed before Atlantic City's Christmas Parade in December.

The Atlantic Avenue project extends beyond resurfacing the roadway. Small said it includes new sidewalks, curbs, underground infrastructure improvements and decorative lighting designed to modernize one of the city's primary corridors.

"It was always more than paving the road," Small said. "This is a major, major project."

The mayor acknowledged the work has taken longer than expected but said residents will ultimately benefit from the comprehensive improvements.

As part of the project, Small said the city also reached an agreement with the Superior Court that will eliminate a previously planned "road diet" along much of Atlantic Avenue. Under the agreement, the roadway will maintain its existing traffic configuration from Tennessee Avenue to Albany Avenue, while portions of the state-required redesign will remain elsewhere to satisfy grant requirements.

Small also pushed back against critics who have made the delayed project a focal point of criticism of his administration.

"We will not be defined by Atlantic Avenue," Small said, pointing to other investments the city has made in public safety, parks and neighborhood improvements.

Among those projects, Small highlighted the city's new mobile command vehicle for the Police Department, expanded drone technology and planned improvements at Dolphin Field, noting that many of those initiatives are funded through dedicated grants or hotel occupancy tax revenue that legally cannot be redirected to road construction.

Looking ahead, Small said Pacific Avenue could become the city's next major roadway improvement project. If utility work stays on schedule, he said construction on that corridor could begin later this year.

Small made the comments during an interview Monday on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.