Flood Prone Areas To Receive Mitigation In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A flood mitigation project is expanding to more areas of the Merion Park neighborhood in Ocean City, officials announced at a recent City Council meeting.

A resolution was approved at the Oct. 6 meeting to incorporate Cape May County roads and additional areas along West, Haven and Simpson avenues into the current Merion Park flood mitigation design project. The engineering work is being done by Michael Baker International, Inc.

This includes from the 34th Street bridge to Bay Avenue, 34th Street between Bay Avenue and West Avenue and areas between 34th and 37th from West to Simpson, City Business Administrator George Savastano said at the meeting.

The area between 43rd and 45th from West Avenue to the alley where condominiums were raised will also get flood mitigation to complement the building raising, Savastano said. County work will be incorporated into the city project, he said.

"This makes sense from an engineering standpoint, to get all this engineering work done now," Savastano said. "It makes sense to ensure we get the best product because of these areas that abut each other."

Ocean City officials announced a five-year flood mitigation plan in 2020 that costs $25 million. Read More: Ocean City Unveils Major Flood Control Projects

Councilman Bob Barr clarified that the goal is to get pumps and pipes in the ground at Merion Park starting in spring and summer of 2023.

"It looks like it's going to be good for the south end," Barr said.

The news comes after Ocean City experienced flooding during the remnants of Hurricane Ian. It also follows the news that the U.S. Army Corps awarded a new contract for beach replenishment. Read More: $21.5 Million To Beach Replenishment In Ocean City