Flooding relief coming to many in Atlantic County - NBC40.net

Officials in Atlantic City and Atlantic County say help is on the way to many parts of the area that deal with constant flooding.

The rains came in heavy Wednesday night and roads were flooded across our area. Anyone who uses the Black Horse Pike knows flooding is a chronic problem. Those who live in the Bungalow Park section of Atlantic City know the water controls their lives.

"it's all the time [flooding]," Atlantic City resident Bob Chapman said. "Losing a lot of cars. Bonnie's son lost a car. The guy on the corner lost a car. Actually they lost a Mercedes and a Cadillac."

Neighbors and city officials say these corroded bulkheads are the cause of much of the constant flooding. Now city officials say help is on the way.

"Were going to try and mitigate this problem by replacing the entire bulk head system throughout the inter-costal water way which is all these channels throughout the city," Atlantic City Director of Emergency Management, Tom Foley said.

Money will also go toward raising streets and homes. In the west Atlantic city section of egg harbor township, houses and streets are also in regular danger, but now relief is coming there too.

"We've already been in touch with FEMA and they have indicated they will give us additional funding to now extend the dunes and gabion system further, which will give us more protection," Egg Harbor Twp Mayor, James "Sonny" McCullough said. 

The gabions are rocks stuffed in cages that protect the dunes. They will be installed along Bay Avenue and Lakes Bay. Officials say they expect the project to start this summer.

They add the Department of Transportation is also finalizing plans now to raise the Black Horse Pike.

That project does not have a current start date.

Construction on the bulkheads in Atlantic City is expected to take two years once they start.