Atlantic City Road Paving Ahead of Schedule, Could Be Finished Before Winter

City spokesman Andrew Kramer says crews are making strong progress on Atlantic and Pacific avenues despite delays caused by September's nor'easter.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City's long-awaited road paving project is progressing ahead of schedule, with city officials now suggesting work could be completed before winter rather than the original year-end deadline.

Atlantic City Public Information Officer Andrew Kramer delivered the encouraging update during an Oct. 9 appearance on The AC Mike Lopez Show on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND, saying the transformation of Atlantic and Pacific avenues is becoming increasingly apparent to motorists.

"If you're driving along Atlantic, driving along Pacific, you see the work happening," Kramer told Lopez. "You see the roads all smoothed out."

Crews have been working along Atlantic Avenue from Albany Avenue to Tennessee Avenue, with paving giving way to the next phase of the project.

"Right now we are in the striping process, and this project is just moving right along," Kramer said.

The progress comes despite the late-September nor'easter that brought flooding, coastal erosion and other disruptions to communities throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Kramer said the storm created some complications but did not derail the city's construction schedule.

"Even with some snags with the nor'easter a couple weeks ago, we are still not only just right where we want to be with the project, but actually still a little bit ahead of schedule too," he said.

Completion Could Come Earlier Than Expected

The city previously established a goal of finishing the paving work before the end of 2026.

Now, Kramer believes the project could be completed considerably sooner, provided construction continues at its current pace.

"The goal was to have this wrapped up before the end of the year," Kramer said. "And if you've taken a ride down Atlantic Avenue, you know very well that if all goes on the pace we're going to, this should be wrapped up well before the year is over."

He went a step further, suggesting that the work could be completed before colder weather arrives.

"It might even be wrapped up before the cold weather starts coming in," Kramer said.

The city has not announced a revised completion date, and Kramer's comments were an assessment of the project's progress rather than a formal change to the construction schedule.

Still, the update represents a positive development for a project that has required motorists, businesses and residents to navigate construction activity along two of Atlantic City's major thoroughfares.

Motorists Seeing the Difference

During the interview, Lopez said the improvements are already noticeable behind the wheel.

"My teeth aren't rattling anymore," Lopez joked while discussing the newly paved streets.

Kramer welcomed that reaction, saying the improvements are becoming difficult to miss.

"We've been working on the roads, Albany all the way to Tennessee," he said.

Lopez noted that the work has included not only new pavement but also the striping needed to finish the roadway improvements.

He also acknowledged that the project had been a long time coming, regardless of which city administration ultimately completed it.

"This is something that's long overdue, not to one particular administration or not, but it's just the fact that it's being done," Lopez said.

Kramer said he hopes residents who questioned whether the work would actually move forward can now see the results.

"I know even as we were out there a couple weeks ago having the Paving and Behaving event, there were some people still doubting this," Kramer said.

"But I hope everybody can see now this project was always meant to be. It's happening as we speak."

The city's "Paving and Behaving" initiative has accompanied the construction effort, encouraging residents and motorists to remain patient as crews complete the improvements.

City Thanks Residents for Their Patience

Kramer acknowledged that road construction has required cooperation from the public, particularly along heavily traveled corridors.

He expressed appreciation for residents and motorists who have dealt with the inconvenience while crews work toward completion.

"Every time I come on your show, we talk about paving," Kramer said. "We thank everybody again for their patience with this project."

With new pavement already in place along significant portions of the work area and striping underway, Kramer said the project is entering an encouraging stage.

"We are cruising right along, and it is smooth sailing along Atlantic Avenue, and we'd love to see it," he said.

For Atlantic City drivers who have spent years navigating deteriorating pavement, the most noticeable improvement may already be here.

And if construction continues at its current pace, the remaining work could be finished before winter arrives.

Atlantic City Public Information Officer Andrew Kramer discussed the road paving project during an interview on The AC Mike Lopez Show, airing weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.