Ocean City to Consider Materials for a Better Boardwalk

Mayor Jay Gillian's administration asked Thursday for a little more time before City Council acts on bids for reconstruction of the Ocean City Boardwalk.

"We'd like to take the opportunity to reconsider materials and construction," Business Administrator Mike Dattilo said. "There are some new products that look very promising."

City Council in May approved spending $1 million for the first phase (between Fifth and Sixth streets) of a nine-year project to replace the substructure and decking of the Boardwalk between Fifth and 12th streets. But the city has become increasingly frustrated by the quality of the southern yellow pine they have been using. The wood splinters quickly, cracks and leaves nails or screws exposed.

Some new wood products include synthetic agents for increased strength and durability.

Dattilo said the city will not consider a return to hardwood. An extended controversy led the city to give up on a plan to use the Brazilian hardwod ipe — though what to do with the $275,000 worth of ipe that the city has been storing since 2009 remains a subject of debate.

The city also has enough southern pine on hand to complete about two and half blocks of boardwalk decking.

Council on Thursday agreed to remove a resolution from its agenda that called for rejecting bids for the project and readvertising for new bids. 

Specifications for new bids would address the potential use of new materials.