Ocean City Artery To Get Major Overhaul

OCEAN CITY - The reconstruction of St. Louis Ave. took a small step forward this week with the town's request for proposals for civil engineering, traffic and landscape design services.

This week a Request for Proposals (RFP) was approved by the City Council, allowing the town to accept proposals for engineering and architectural services for the reconstruction of St. Louis Ave.

At this point, the town is only calling for proposed design work for the reconstruction of the street. No plans or budgeting for reconstruction has taken place and will most likely not occur until the completion and review of the design work.

According to City Engineer Terry McGean, the design work will cover the geographic scope of St. Louis Ave. from the northern edge of North Division Street to 17^th Street. The scope of work will also include side streets, from St. Louis Ave. to the bay and the area along 17^th Street from St. Louis Ave. to Philadelphia Ave. McGean explained that potential work such as burying utility lines would inevitably require them to address side streets.

St. Louis Ave., from North Division to 17^th Street, includes two five-foot sidewalks, two travel lanes, parallel on-street parking and two bike lanes from 2^nd to 17^th streets. St. Louis Ave. is also used for the trolley bus shuttle.

According to the RFP, the street drainage and street pavement along St. Louis Ave. is generally failing. The town's desire in reconstructing the road is to maintain the residential and local character, enhance aesthetics, improve the safe movement of pedestrians and bicyclists, incorporate the trolley bus shuttle route and underground utilities.