Beach Concert Series may extend a week
SOMERS POINT — Motorists turning onto Shore Road from the base of the Route 52 causeway are welcomed to Somers Point by a gantlet of potholes.
Stretching from the intersection, past George Street and almost to the corner of Annie Avenue, the pavement is pitted, patched, poorly repaired and a pain in the axel for those faced with traversing it.
Mayor Dennis Tapp said in April that paving of the county road was scheduled for the week before Memorial Day, but provided an update May 22 setting a new date of June 9. He added that the work would be done at night to lessen the hassle for commuters.
Engineer Greg Schneider said the road has not been paved since the 2.5-mile causeway was completed in May 2012 after seven years of construction. The $500 million project, which straddles the Intracoastal Waterway between Ocean City and Somers Point, replaced a causeway with two aging drawbridges that were temperamental and sometimes got stuck open in the summer heat.
Schneider said the sheer volume of traffic, combined with the speed and fact that its a bit of a berm put a lot of strain on the roadway.
He said Arawak Paving Co. would strip the northbound lane down to the sub base to make repairs so that the potholes do not reappear.
Beach concerts
Tapp also congratulated Carmen and Nancy Marotta and the Beach Concert Committee. The Somers Point Beach Concert Series was named No. 1 in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice poll for the best outdoor concert series. The series was ranked No. 1 in 2023 and No. 2 in 2024.
“I wanted to extend our thanks to the Beach Concert Committee for their commitment. Your commitment put Somers Point on the map as a premier destination for live music and I am looking forward to how the 2025 season works out,” he said.
Solicitor Tom Smith said most of the documents are in order for the series to proceed June 13. He noted there is a problem with all of the contracts, which do not include language specifying that the city has no financial liability.
“We’re getting there, just waiting on contracts,” Smith said.
The Concert Committee also requested an additional date of Sept. 12. Council agreed to have the issue formalized via resolution at the next meeting, set for 7 p.m. June 12.
The concerts are held Friday evenings throughout the summer at the city’s William Morrow Beach fronting Great Egg Harbor Bay.
City Councilwoman Janice Johnston said there has been discussion about blocking half of the parking lot to allow vendors to operate off the city street. She asked whether that was going to move forward.
“My fear is somebody is going to get hurt,” she said, noting children line up at the ice cream truck near moving cars.
City Council President Charlie Haberkorn said he would discuss the matter with Police Chief Richard Somers because it is a public safety issue.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
