Jersey Shore boardwalk construction in 2026 is not one uniform rebuilding program. Atlantic City is replacing major sections in separate phases, Ocean City has completed two work areas before scheduling another for the off-season, Asbury Park has opened new visitor facilities, and Long Branch is preparing an accessible pier expected to open in 2027. These projects share a state funding source, but their scope, timing and effect on public access differ sharply.
The New Jersey Boardwalk Preservation Fund awarded $100 million to 18 municipalities. The money can support decking, pilings, structural foundations, ramps, railings, boardwalk extensions and structures connected to a boardwalk. Grant recipients must expend the funds by December 31, 2026, making 2026 the main delivery year for many of the funded projects.
Scope note: The state recipient list includes Atlantic Ocean resorts as well as bay and riverfront municipalities such as Keyport and Carteret. They are included because they received money from the same boardwalk fund, even though not every project is located on the oceanfront section commonly called the Jersey Shore.
Why 2026 Is the Boardwalk Fund Deadline Year
The preservation fund uses federal American Rescue Plan money administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Awards were announced in February 2024 after municipalities submitted projects for boardwalk construction, maintenance, reconstruction or repair of connected structures.
Eligible work was broader than replacing surface boards. The state listed deteriorated pilings, structural infrastructure, longer-lasting decking, ADA-compliant ramps, railings, extensions and related building work among the possible uses. That explains why one municipality may be replacing a wooden walking surface while another is building an accessible fishing pier or restoring a building physically tied to its boardwalk.
The original grant terms required awards to be obligated by the end of 2024 and expended by the end of 2026. Expenditure of grant money does not always equal public opening. A contractor may complete billable construction within the grant period while inspections, final site work or the formal opening continue into 2027.
Reporting distinction: “Funded,” “under contract,” “under construction,” “substantially complete” and “open to the public” describe different stages. A municipality receiving an award does not prove that work has started, and a projected completion date does not prove that the project opened on that date.
Reconstruction Status by Municipality
The table separates the confirmed state award from the most recent project stage found in public agency material. A status marked municipal confirmation needed means the grant is verified but a sufficiently current construction update was not identified. It should not be interpreted as a cancelled or inactive project.
| Municipality | State Award | Latest Verifiable Stage | Confirmed Project Detail | Visitor Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbury Park | $20,000,000 | Visitor facilities open; restoration work separate | Permanent restrooms, new shower stations and step-free beach connections opened for the 2026 season. Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre work forms another part of the city program. | New facilities are already in service; building restoration should not be treated as a full boardwalk closure. |
| Atlantic City | $20,000,000 | One section active; another completed | Work from New Jersey Avenue to Tennessee Avenue began in early 2026. The Bellevue Avenue to Arkansas Avenue reconstruction was reported complete. | Construction is section-specific rather than boardwalk-wide. |
| Belmar Borough | $1,504,184 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state grant is confirmed. A current project-stage notice was not identified in the material reviewed. | No closure or completion claim should be made without a newer borough update. |
| Berkeley Township | $448,125 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state grant is confirmed. Current construction details require township verification. | The award alone does not identify an affected public route. |
| Bradley Beach | $4,275,000 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state grant is confirmed. A sufficiently current phase update was not identified. | Check for block-level notices before describing visitor disruption. |
| Brigantine | $1,185,838 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state grant is confirmed. The latest construction stage was not clear in the reviewed public material. | No town-wide boardwalk restriction should be inferred. |
| Cape May City | $6,722,552 | Municipal confirmation needed | The award is confirmed, but the current grant-specific construction stage needs a newer city update. | Separate promenade maintenance from unrelated beachfront projects. |
| Carteret Borough | $2,417,339 | Municipal confirmation needed | Carteret received an award for its waterfront boardwalk setting on the Arthur Kill, not an Atlantic Ocean resort boardwalk. | This project should not be described as an oceanfront Jersey Shore reconstruction. |
| Keyport Borough | $800,694 | Municipal confirmation needed | The award applies to a Raritan Bay waterfront setting. Current grant-specific work requires local confirmation. | Bayfront access conditions may differ from oceanfront construction patterns. |
| Long Branch | $3,249,000 | Fully funded; 2027 opening planned | A fully accessible boardwalk extension and pedestrian fishing pier is planned near Laird Street and Pier Village. Additional state funding brought the project to full funding in April 2026. | The project is a new public structure, not routine redecking. Public opening is expected in 2027. |
| North Wildwood | $10,259,827 | Phase target passed; later confirmation needed | Reconstruction from mid-block 24th Avenue to 26th Avenue was scheduled from September 2025 with an early April 2026 completion target. | The target suggests work was intended to finish before the main season, but a later completion notice should confirm the exact segment status. |
| Ocean City | $4,859,175 | Two areas complete; next phase after Labor Day | North-end work and reinforcement from 12th to 14th Street are complete. Work from 14th to 16th Street is scheduled after Labor Day 2026. | The main summer period is separated from the next planned construction phase. |
| Sea Isle City | $1,997,000 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state award is confirmed. The latest project phase requires a current city construction notice. | Do not assume the full promenade is affected. |
| Seaside Heights | $4,795,362 | Municipal confirmation needed | The state award is confirmed. A current grant-specific project stage was not established from the material reviewed. | Amusement-area operations and structural work may follow different schedules. |
| Toms River | $1,018,441 | Municipal confirmation needed | The township award is confirmed. Current route, phase and access effects need local verification. | The municipality contains several waterfront environments; the precise project location matters. |
| Ventnor | $7,110,689 | Municipal confirmation needed | The city received one of the larger awards. The current grant-specific phase should be confirmed through a recent municipal project report. | Construction should be reported by street range rather than as a citywide closure. |
| Wildwood City | $8,269,013 | Multi-phase work continuing in 2026 | Published work includes base-support reconstruction, timber decking, tram-car tracks, signs, railings, lighting and ADA-accessible ramps. | Different sections can open at different times; surface and tram circulation may change by phase. |
| Wildwood Crest | $1,087,425 | Municipal confirmation needed | The boardwalk grant is confirmed. A separate 2026 fishing-pier expansion has also been announced, but it should not automatically be treated as the grant-funded boardwalk project. | Funding sources and project boundaries should be separated before reporting visitor effects. |
Projects Already Producing Visible Changes
Asbury Park Added Facilities and Step-Free Connections
Asbury Park used part of its award for improvements that visitors can use during the 2026 beach season. Permanent restroom buildings at First Avenue and Fourth Avenue replaced the temporary shipping-container facilities that had served the waterfront.
The city also installed purpose-built shower stations at the main beach entrances. Each entrance has two stations with showers and a foot-washing point, and one station at each entrance is step-free. The accessible station connects to the beach ramp through a mat pathway extending toward the sand.
This work shows why a boardwalk preservation award cannot be measured only in linear feet of new planking. The practical result includes sanitary facilities, water access and a continuous approach between the boardwalk, ramp and beach surface.
Access detail: A shower labelled accessible is most useful when the approach is also usable. The step-free station and mat connection address the route between the elevated boardwalk and the beach rather than treating the shower as an isolated fixture.
Restoration of Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre belongs to a different part of Asbury Park’s waterfront program. Those buildings are physically tied to the boardwalk complex, but their construction status should not be used to describe the opening status of the entire walking route.
Ocean City Separated Summer Access from Off-Season Work
Ocean City reports that work at the north end is complete, along with reinforcement and redecking from 12th Street to 14th Street. The next scheduled phase, from 14th Street to 16th Street, is due to begin after Labor Day.
The larger funded work includes rebuilding from St. Charles Place to Fifth Street through complete replacement of the substructure and decking. A section of existing ipe decking is being preserved and reinstalled, so the project is not a uniform removal of every existing board.
The city lists a project schedule running from fall 2025 to fall 2026. Placing the 14th-to-16th Street work after Labor Day limits conflict with the busiest summer period, although later construction can still affect fall events, bicycle movement and block-level access.
Why the material detail matters: Reusing a serviceable section of ipe changes the project from simple full replacement to selective preservation. It also means neighboring blocks may have different surface ages and construction histories after work is complete.
Large Reconstruction Programs Still Moving Through 2026
Atlantic City Has Separate Projects at Different Stages
Atlantic City should not be described as having one continuous boardwalk construction project. The city has reported at least two major reconstruction areas with different funding, boundaries and completion stages.
New Jersey Avenue to Tennessee Avenue
The city assigned its $20 million preservation-fund award to work between New Jersey Avenue and Tennessee Avenue. Atlantic City reported in January 2026 that construction had begun, following earlier planning that anticipated completion by the end of 2026.
This is the active preservation-fund section and should be identified by its street limits. Describing the whole Atlantic City Boardwalk as under reconstruction would overstate the affected area.
Bellevue Avenue to Arkansas Avenue
A separate reconstruction program began with federal economic-development funding and covered the older boardwalk section beginning near Bellevue Avenue. The city reported the Bellevue Avenue-to-Arkansas Avenue work complete by early 2026.
That project included new concrete ramps at Texas Avenue and Mississippi Avenue designed to handle heavier event-related vehicle use. The ramp work illustrates how boardwalk reconstruction can include emergency, service and event circulation rather than pedestrian decking alone.
Visitor interpretation: A completed western section and an active eastern section can exist at the same time. Detours, barriers or access changes should therefore be reported by avenue range and date, not applied to the full length of the boardwalk.
The Wildwoods Program Extends Below the Surface Boards
Boardwalk work in the Wildwoods spans more than one municipality and more than one construction phase. Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest maintain separate municipal responsibilities even though the visitor boardwalk experience crosses local boundaries.
Published 2026 work in Wildwood includes removal of older boards and tram-car tracks, rebuilding of the supporting base, installation of new timber decking and updates to signs, railings, lighting and ADA-accessible ramps. These elements affect structural condition, pedestrian movement and the operation of the boardwalk transportation corridor.
North Wildwood scheduled reconstruction between mid-block 24th Avenue and 26th Avenue from late September 2025, with an early April 2026 completion target. Municipal payment records continued to reference boardwalk replacement during spring 2026, but a later public completion notice was not identified. The safest status is therefore scheduled for pre-season completion, with final confirmation still needed.
Tourism material published in January 2026 described new Wildwood sections as targeting spring or summer openings to reduce seasonal disruption. That wording indicates phased delivery rather than one date when every active work area becomes complete.
Work elements reported in the Wildwoods: structural base replacement, timber decking, tram-car tracks, railings, signs, lighting and accessible ramps. A surface that appears finished from above may still be part of a larger structural or circulation project.
Long Branch Is Building a New Public Pier, Not Replacing a Routine Section
Long Branch received $3.249 million from the preservation fund for a fully accessible boardwalk extension and fishing pier near Laird Street and Pier Village. The planned structure restores a public pier location associated with the city’s earlier oceanfront pier, which was lost in a 1987 fire.
The project is intended solely for pedestrian and fishing use. It is not designed as a ferry terminal or transportation dock. Plans describe a year-round public structure with a fully accessible fishing area, a wood-and-concrete design and a wider section near the seaward end.
Long Branch issued multiple bid notices after the first contract process encountered problems. In April 2026, the city announced an additional $5 million in state aid and described the project as fully funded. The city’s 2026 capital plan lists an estimated total cost of about $13.5 million and an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027.
Correct status wording: The pier is a 2026-funded construction project with a public opening expected in 2027. It should not appear in a list of boardwalk projects already open for the 2026 summer season.
Reconstruction, Repair, Preservation and Expansion Describe Different Work
Municipal project descriptions use terms that can look interchangeable but point to different physical work. The distinction affects cost, construction time and what a visitor sees after reopening.
| Project Term | What It Usually Means | 2026 Example | What May Change for Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redecking | Removal and replacement of the visible walking surface while some supporting structure remains. | Parts of Ocean City’s 12th-to-14th Street work. | New surface boards, local barriers and temporary route narrowing. |
| Reconstruction | Replacement of decking together with substructure, base framing, pilings or other supports. | Ocean City north-end work and Wildwoods structural phases. | Longer closures, heavier equipment and larger block-level work zones. |
| Repair | Targeted correction of damaged, weakened or deteriorated sections. | Atlantic City work divided by avenue range. | Localized detours rather than closure of the full boardwalk. |
| Preservation | Retention or reuse of serviceable material, historic fabric or an existing connected structure. | Reinstallation of selected ipe decking in Ocean City and waterfront-building work in Asbury Park. | New and retained materials may appear together. |
| Expansion | Addition of a new route, extension, pier or public-use area. | Long Branch accessible boardwalk extension and fishing pier. | A new destination and route choice rather than a repaired existing segment. |
| Accessibility Upgrade | Changes to approach routes, ramps, railings, surfaces, facilities or connections. | Asbury Park shower access, Atlantic City ramps and Wildwood ADA ramps. | Improved step-free movement and clearer connections between street, boardwalk and beach. |
What Visitors May Notice During Summer and Fall 2026
Most boardwalk projects are divided by street range or construction phase. A notice affecting two blocks should not be converted into a claim that the entire destination is closed. The most useful visitor update identifies the municipality, street limits, affected access point and date of the notice.
- Temporary barriers: Work zones may reduce usable width without closing the full boardwalk.
- Block-level detours: Pedestrians or cyclists may be redirected to a street for a short section.
- Changed beach access: The nearest ramp, stairs or mat route may move while a street-end connection is rebuilt.
- Surface transitions: Completed phases can leave visible changes between older boards, new timber and retained ipe.
- Off-season remobilization: Contractors may leave the site for the summer and return after Labor Day.
- Facility openings: Restrooms, showers or ramps may open even while a separate building or boardwalk section remains active.
- Transport adjustments: Tram-car tracks and service-vehicle ramps can affect circulation independently from pedestrian decking.
Ocean City provides the clearest example of seasonal phasing: the 14th-to-16th Street section is scheduled after Labor Day rather than during the central summer period. Atlantic City demonstrates geographic phasing, with one avenue range complete while another remains active.
A projected completion month should be treated as a planning date until a municipality confirms reopening. Weather, concealed structural deterioration, material delivery, inspection requirements and contractor scheduling can change the final date. A delay should not be attributed to one of these causes unless the municipality identifies it.
What the Award Amounts Do and Do Not Reveal
The state award is only one part of the financial picture. Some municipalities combine the preservation grant with federal assistance, additional state appropriations, municipal borrowing or local capital funds. The award table should therefore be read as the distribution of one program, not a ranking of total project cost.
A larger award can fund several work types.
Asbury Park’s allocation covers visitor facilities, accessibility work and restoration connected to the waterfront complex.
A smaller award can support a much larger project.
Long Branch’s $3.249 million grant is one component of a pier project now budgeted at about $13.5 million.
Similar awards may buy different physical results.
Decking, pilings, historic buildings, ramps and new piers carry different engineering, permitting and material costs.
Funding does not confirm opening.
Award, contract, construction completion and public opening should each be dated separately.
The two largest awards went to Asbury Park and Atlantic City at $20 million each. North Wildwood received more than $10.25 million, while Wildwood received more than $8.26 million and Ventnor more than $7.11 million. These amounts indicate the scale of state support but do not show how much of each municipality’s full project has been completed.
Projects That Still Need a Fresh Municipal Status
State award information is stable, but local construction reporting varies. Some municipalities publish a dedicated capital-project page, while others place updates in council packets, bid notices, mayoral letters or temporary alerts that can be difficult to find later.
Belmar, Berkeley Township, Bradley Beach, Brigantine, Cape May, Carteret, Keyport, Sea Isle City, Seaside Heights, Toms River, Ventnor and Wildwood Crest all have confirmed preservation-fund awards. Their current construction stage should be updated only after locating a recent municipal record that identifies the project area and its present condition.
Evidence rule: An old bid notice can establish intended work, but it cannot prove completion. A tourism announcement can identify a target opening, but a municipal completion notice, capital-project update or current access alert provides stronger evidence of what is open.
Wildwood Crest requires an extra distinction. A 2026 expansion of the borough’s fishing pier has been announced publicly, but current material does not clearly establish that this project is identical to the work funded by the $1.087 million preservation award. The projects should remain separate unless a borough document connects the funding and construction scope.
What Should Be Recorded After the Funding Deadline
Once December 31, 2026 has passed, the most useful record will not be a list of earlier projections. Each project should be assigned a final status supported by a dated municipal statement.
- Completed: Construction finished and the area reopened to ordinary public use.
- Substantially complete: The main structure is usable, but minor work or inspection items remain.
- Construction continuing: Work extends beyond the state spending deadline under an approved financial or contract arrangement.
- Opening scheduled for 2027: Construction or final preparation continues toward a later public opening, as planned for Long Branch.
- Scope changed: The municipality completed work that differs from the original public description.
- Status not confirmed: No recent municipal source establishes completion or opening.
Final reporting should retain the original award, the work that was promised, the work actually completed and the date public access returned. This makes it possible to distinguish a repaired surface from a rebuilt support system, a newly accessible entrance from a general maintenance project, and a completed contract from a structure that has not yet opened.
Questions About the 2026 Reconstruction Program
Why are several New Jersey boardwalk projects active in 2026?
The $100 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund requires recipients to expend the grant money by December 31, 2026. Municipalities are therefore completing, phasing or contracting many funded projects during the same period.
Are Jersey Shore boardwalks closed during reconstruction?
Most published projects affect defined street ranges or individual facilities rather than an entire municipal boardwalk. Closure and detour information must be checked by location and date.
Is the full Atlantic City Boardwalk under construction?
No. Atlantic City has separate project sections. The Bellevue Avenue-to-Arkansas Avenue work was reported complete, while the New Jersey Avenue-to-Tennessee Avenue project remained active in 2026.
Which Ocean City sections are complete?
Ocean City reports that the north-end portion and the reinforcement and redecking work from 12th Street to 14th Street are complete. Work from 14th Street to 16th Street is scheduled after Labor Day 2026.
What work is included in the Wildwoods reconstruction?
Published work includes structural base replacement, timber decking, tram-car tracks, signs, railings, lighting and ADA-accessible ramps. The exact status varies by municipality and project phase.
When is the Long Branch fishing pier expected to open?
The city announced a 2027 opening. Its 2026 capital plan lists June 30, 2027 as the estimated completion date for the boardwalk extension project.
Does the preservation fund pay only for wooden decking?
No. Eligible work includes structural infrastructure, pilings, ramps, railings, extensions and connected structures. Funded local programs include restrooms, showers, historic waterfront buildings and a new accessible pier.
Will every funded project be open by the end of 2026?
Not necessarily. The grant expenditure deadline is not the same as a public opening deadline. Long Branch is the clearest example of a funded project with an opening planned for 2027.
Official Records Used for the July 2026 Status Review
- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: Boardwalk Preservation Fund award announcement, recipient amounts, eligible project types and grant deadlines.
- City of Atlantic City: Boardwalk repair announcements and the January 2026 State of the City project update.
- City of Ocean City: Current capital-project list covering completed sections, the 14th-to-16th Street schedule and reuse of ipe decking.
- City of Asbury Park: June 2026 notice for new restrooms, shower stations and step-free beach connections.
- City of Long Branch: Pier funding announcement, bid records and the May 2026 capital plan.
- City of North Wildwood: Construction notice for the 24th-to-26th Avenue phase and 2026 municipal payment records.
- Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority: January 2026 description of boardwalk reconstruction elements and phased opening targets.
Last verified: July 24, 2026. Project schedules, work-zone limits and reopening dates can change after publication. Status language should be revised when a municipality issues a newer construction, completion or access notice.