Wildwood Boardwalk Is Getting Bigger Again With A Major Expansion Underway

The Wildwood Boardwalk is getting bigger again.

Earlier this week, the City of Wildwood announced several major Boardwalk closures that will remain in place through the spring of 2027. While the notice told visitors where the closures would take place, it didn’t explain exactly what was being built.

After digging through the City’s bidding documents and recently awarded contracts, we now have a much better idea.

The work is part of the “2026 Boardwalk Rehabilitation: Phase 8, 8E & Re-Deck Phase 1,” a nearly $4.9 million construction project that will rebuild a large section of the southern Boardwalk, widen it by 14 feet, add a new pavilion and replace decking farther north.

NOTE: At the bottom of this article, you’ll find a video showcasing these sections, where we break down the project in more detail.

The largest portion of the project stretches from Hand Avenue south to Cresse Avenue.

According to the City’s original Notice to Bidders, the base project includes the “removal and replacement of existing timber portions” of the Boardwalk, along with new railings, lighting, security cameras, decking, stairs and ramps.

Crews will also remove the existing concrete trolley slabs used along the Boardwalk. aka, what we have already been seeing for all the other versions of the boardwalk reconstruction.

But the biggest change comes under what the City calls Phase 8E.

The bidding documents list Alternate 1 as a “14′ wide Boardwalk Extension from Hand to Cresse Ave.”

That means the Boardwalk isn’t simply being rebuilt. It is being widened by another 14 feet for several blocks on the southern end.

This continues the expansion work we’ve seen during earlier phases of Wildwood’s massive Boardwalk reconstruction project, where older and narrower portions have been rebuilt with considerably more space.

The 14-foot extension wasn’t just an option proposed during bidding.

Also See: Another Section of Atlantic Ave is Getting Rebuilt in North Wildwood

On August 26, the Wildwood Board of Commissioners awarded the project for $4,862,623.50. The contract includes the base bid along with Alternates 1, 2 and 3.

Alternate 1 is the 14-foot extension.

Alternate 2 calls for a “new Boardwalk Pavilion.”

The publicly available bidding notice doesn’t identify exactly where the pavilion will be located or what it will look like. Those details should be included in the project’s engineering drawings prepared by Colliers Engineering & Design.

Alternate 3 explains another closure announced by the City this week.

The Boardwalk between Oak and Maple avenues will close beginning October 13 for what the bidding documents describe as work to “Re-Deck the boardwalk from Oak Ave. to Maple Ave.”

Unlike the Hand-to-Cresse section, this appears to be primarily a decking replacement rather than another full reconstruction.

The City has also spent a significant amount on new Boardwalk decking.

In August, commissioners approved a $460,480 purchase of Cumaru decking from 84 Lumber. Later that month, the City increased that contract after determining there was a need for “additional linear feet of cumaru.”

That brought the total Cumaru purchase to $546,820.

The City’s latest closure announcement now makes much more sense when compared with the bidding documents.

Hand Avenue to Bennett Avenue is already closed to the public and will remain closed through May 8, 2027.

Bennett Avenue to Cresse Avenue will remain accessible until October 5 before closing through May 8.

Also See: Abandoned Wildwood Lot Could Become Parking Garage

Oak Avenue to Maple Avenue will remain open until October 13 before closing for the re-decking work. The City says that section could reopen sooner if construction is completed ahead of schedule.

The entire project is scheduled for completion by May 8, 2027, just in time for the start of another summer season.

This winter’s work is another major piece of Wildwood’s multiyear effort to reconstruct its aging Boardwalk.

Over the past several offseasons, large portions of the Boardwalk have been demolished and rebuilt with new structural components, decking, lighting, railings and other improvements.

Now that work is continuing farther south.

And Wildwood isn’t the only community in the Wildwoods doing major Boardwalk work this offseason.

This project is separate from construction planned in neighboring North Wildwood, which is moving forward with its own Boardwalk projects.

North Wildwood plans to continue its southern Boardwalk project between 23rd and 24½ avenues while also constructing another new section around 16th Avenue.

That work is expected to begin this fall with completion targeted for around Easter 2027.

Combined, it means visitors will see major construction taking place at several locations along the Wildwoods Boardwalk this offseason, as both Wildwood and North Wildwood continue rebuilding and improving their respective sections.

There are still a few questions we are working to answer in Wildwood, particularly where the new pavilion will be located and exactly how the 14-foot extension will tie into the existing Boardwalk.

But one thing is now clear from the City’s own bidding and contract documents.

When guests return for the 2027 season, the Wildwood Boardwalk will be bigger and better.