Absecon Island Outfall Pipe Repairs: $19.7 Million Project
A major coastal infrastructure project is moving forward
A significant infrastructure project is moving ahead across Absecon Island after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District awarded a $19.695 million contract for repairs and extensions to seven ocean outfall pipes.
The contract was awarded to Agate Construction Company of Egg Harbor Township on August 27, 2026. The work affects Ventnor City, Margate City, and Atlantic City and also includes repairs to a major beach-access ramp along the Ventnor Boardwalk.
For residents, second homeowners, and visitors, this is primarily an infrastructure and stormwater-management project. Ocean outfall pipes play an important role in moving storm runoff away from heavily developed portions of the barrier island and toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Where will the Absecon Island outfall work occur?
Seven ocean outfall locations are included in the contract.
In Ventnor City, work is planned at Jackson Avenue. The project also calls for structural repairs to the New Haven vehicular beach access ramp along the Ventnor Boardwalk.
Margate City has two identified outfall locations:
Nassau Avenue
Vendome Avenue
Four additional outfalls are located in Atlantic City at New Jersey Avenue, St. James Place, Virginia Avenue, and California Avenue.
That makes this a regional project rather than an improvement confined to a single municipality. The infrastructure crosses multiple communities on Absecon Island that face many of the same challenges involving stormwater, beach access, and coastal exposure.
Why are ocean outfall pipes important?
Ocean outfall pipes are designed to move storm runoff from developed areas toward the ocean.
That function is particularly important on a densely developed barrier island, where streets, homes, commercial properties, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces can create large volumes of runoff during heavy rain.
The current project isn't simply routine cosmetic maintenance. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project information included in the research, the contract covers structural repairs and extensions to the seven identified outfall pipes.
The work is part of the broader Absecon Island Coastal Storm Risk Management project.
Who is responsible for the project?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District awarded the $19.695 million contract to Agate Construction Company, which is based in Egg Harbor Township.
The coastal storm risk management initiative is federally funded and is being carried out with participation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and municipal partners.
That multi-agency structure is important because the infrastructure being addressed doesn't stop at municipal borders. Ventnor, Margate, and Atlantic City share the same barrier island, and coastal drainage and stormwater systems are regional concerns.
USACE engineers are expected to coordinate with the individual municipal public works departments as the project moves into construction.
What about the Ventnor Boardwalk beach-access ramp?
One particularly visible component of the contract involves the New Haven vehicular beach access ramp in Ventnor City.
Major structural repairs to the ramp are included in the project scope.
Vehicular beach-access points serve a different purpose from ordinary pedestrian beach entrances, making the New Haven Avenue component a notable part of the larger contract.
The ramp sits along the Ventnor City Boardwalk, meaning construction planning will need to account for an area used by residents and visitors as well as municipal operations.
According to the project information, USACE engineers will work with local public works departments to schedule construction phases while minimizing disruptions to public beach access.
What should Ventnor and Margate residents watch next?
The contract award establishes the project and contractor, but individual construction phases will require coordination among federal engineers and local governments.
For Ventnor residents, Jackson Avenue and the New Haven beach-access ramp are the two locations to watch.
In Margate, Nassau Avenue and Vendome Avenue are the identified work areas.
Because this is a multi-location project, activity may not occur simultaneously at every site. The research packet does not provide individual start or completion dates for each outfall, so those details should not be assumed until additional schedules are released.
Residents who regularly use these areas should watch future municipal notices regarding construction access and temporary disruptions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Absecon Island outfall project?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the contract for $19.695 million.
How many ocean outfall pipes are included?
Seven outfall pipes across Ventnor City, Margate City, and Atlantic City are included.
Is Ocean City included in the construction locations?
The project was reported through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District and regional reporting, but the seven identified outfall locations in the research packet are in Ventnor, Margate, and Atlantic City.
Who received the contract?
Agate Construction Company of Egg Harbor Township received the contract on August 27, 2026.
What comes next
The $19.695 million contract represents a substantial investment in infrastructure serving Absecon Island.
For Ventnor and Margate residents, the most relevant locations are Jackson Avenue, New Haven Avenue, Nassau Avenue, and Vendome Avenue. As work progresses, municipal coordination will be important for understanding when individual construction phases begin and whether access changes are necessary.
The larger objective is straightforward: repair and extend infrastructure responsible for carrying storm runoff away from developed portions of the barrier island while also addressing the New Haven vehicular beach-access ramp.
Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District; Patch
