North Wildwood’s Road Diet Almost Complete – First Look
If you visited North Wildwood in the past five months, you may have noticed that something big is happening.
North Wildwood’s New Jersey Avenue (CR 621) is getting a major facelift, with a multi-million-dollar reconstruction project officially underway between 4th Ave and Walnut Ave.
Spearheaded by Cape May County, this major infrastructure overhaul is designed to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and overall aesthetics along the popular corridor.
At the heart of the project is a “Road Diet” – a buzzword in urban planning that means reducing the current four-lane road down to just two thru lanes with a center turning lane.
After a competitive bidding process, the construction contract was awarded to Lex Concrete LLC, who secured the project with a winning bid of $2,563,243.10.
This change is expected to calm traffic and make room for wider sidewalks on both sides of the street, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment.
But this isn’t just a simple lane reduction.
The project also includes full roadway reconstruction, new concrete curbs, sidewalks, and gutters, along with stormwater drainage upgrades.
The traffic signal at 2nd Avenue will get a much-needed upgrade, and pedestrian safety is being prioritized with new high-visibility crosswalks, striping, and updated signage.
The plan also includes improvements to the existing parking lot along Old New Jersey Avenue.
That lot will be resurfaced, and the entrance off 2nd Avenue will be realigned to improve traffic flow and safety.
One of the biggest changes coming with this project is the closure of the access point from New Jersey Avenue to Olde New Jersey Avenue (when traveling north).
This stretch of Olde New Jersey Ave is a hot spot in the summer, especially during Friday night bar crawls, live concerts, and major festivals – the street is often packed with foot traffic. In recent years, temporary road closures have been used to prevent cars from driving into the crowd.
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With the new road layout, vehicles will no longer be able to turn onto Olde New Jersey Avenue from 2nd Avenue, making the area much safer for pedestrians during those busy events.
Safety is at the core of this entire redesign.
As with any large construction project, locals and visitors should expect some short-term inconvenience.
However, once the final paving and finishing touches are complete – including the installation of new traffic signals – the area will be significantly improved for both drivers and pedestrians.
This project represents yet another step forward in North Wildwood’s ongoing effort to upgrade its infrastructure while preserving the unique charm that keeps visitors coming back year after year.
Below is our video tour of the project as it currently stands. Before you watch, please consider subscribing.