Construction is underway on a major infrastructure project in Atlantic City to reactivate the Baltic Avenue Canal.

The $22 million Baltic Avenue Canal Improvement project aims to rebuild the more than 110-year-old waterway. At 9,700 feet long, over 10 feet wide and 8 feet tall, the canal drains 775 acres of AC, stretching from south of the Atlantic City Expressway to Absecon Inlet. It also serves portions of the city’s Ducktown, Westside, Midtown, Bungalow Park and Inlet neighborhoods.

The project is funded from a variety of sources. The city secured grants from the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Atlantic City worked with local planning firm Rutala Associates to help secure the funding.

Key features of the project include:

• Six large pumps added to the Atlantic Avenue Flood Gate System to evacuate water during significant flooding events;
• Installation of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (S.C.A.D.A), which will allow for automation from remote locations;
• Installation of screening systems at both the Atlantis Avenue and Fisherman’s Park pump stations, designed to remove all litter prior to discharge into the back bay waterways.

In a press release, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said that this project has been on the drawing board for years and the city is excited to see it finally happening.

“This project will go a long way in preventing nuisance flooding in our neighborhoods, ultimately improving the quality of life for our residents and businesses,” said Small. “The Great City of Atlantic City will become even more resilient thanks to yet another strong partnership between the city and state and federal agencies.”

Other major AC news:

• 2024 Atlantic City Airshow gets grounded (updated)
• AC launches ‘BIG’ effort to address boardwalk homelessness