$10.3M Approved for Paving AC's Atlantic Avenue, Timetable Set

One of Atlantic City's biggest embarrassments -- pothole-filled Atlantic Avenue -- is finally going to get the attention it needs.

Anyone who has tried driving on Atlantic Avenue over the past several years almost certainly still has the trauma of that adventure etched in their brain.

Picture off-roading on the road.

It's bad. How bad? On Atlantic Avenue, even the potholes have potholes.

Grant Money Released for Paving Project

After a holdup in federal funding that is being felt by many municipalities, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small announced on Wednesday that he had finally received word from U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, that the $10.3 million grant for the Atlantic Avenue roadway project was approved.

Van Drew called the upcoming project “a huge step forward for Atlantic City and all of South Jersey.”

In addition to paving Atlantic Avenue, the project includes replacing the streetlights and synchronizing the traffic signals.

The 'Road Diet' Delay

The original plan for Atlantic Avenue was to install a 'road diet', cutting four lanes down to two and installing turn lanes, bike paths, and redoing side-of-street parking.

AtlantiCare and a group of casinos filed suit, saying the road diet would cause gridlock.

The CRDA got involved in the suit claiming that they have the final say over roads in the Tourism District, which includes Atlantic Avenue.

A settlement agreement has four lanes remaining permanently from Tennessee Avenue to Missouri Avenue.

Missouri Avenue to Albany Avenue will remain four lanes temporarily while the DEP studies traffic flow.

Those lanes may be adjusted for a road diet plan at a later date.