Atlantic City Gets $20M To Improve Road, Reduce Flooding

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Atlantic City will receive $20 million from the federal government to improve Route 40 to reduce flooding, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Atlantic City is one of the towns receiving funds from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, intended to modernize transportation access across the country, making it safer, more affordable, more accessible and sustainable, according to USDOT. More than $2.2 billion was allocated from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.

“We are proud to support so many outstanding infrastructure projects in communities large and small, modernizing America’s transportation systems to make them safer, more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a release. “Using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this year we are supporting more projects than ever before.”

Route 40 will be reconstructed and elevated for both drivers and walkers, USDOT said. Drainage systems along the route will be upgraded as well.

"By raising portions of the route, the project will be able to withstand two-year probable storm surge elevations and improve overall storm management," USDOT said.

Route 40 provides direct access to Atlantic City's casinos, so the improvements will benefit the thousands of workers. The project will also improve the road's ability to serve as an evacuation route during extreme weather, USDOT said.

A new drainage main and updated 800-foot extension of the seawall will reduce flooding and improve roadway drainage, USDOT said. The project also will reduce standing water on the roadway, which is a factor in motor vehicle accidents, USDOT said. It will relieve the economic burden of flooding, USDOT said.