During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Mayor Marty Small, Sr. announced the reopening of First Bridge in Atlantic City’s Venice Park neighborhood, closed for just under one year for construction.

 

Motorists will be able to use the bridge again no later than 7:00 p.m. Tuesday night.

 

“Things might take time but ultimately, we get it done. And I can’t get things done without my strong staff,” said Mayor Small. “This is just the start. We’re halfway finished with our ultimate goal of delivering the residents of Venice Park two brand new bridges. We’re hoping construction on Second Bridge will be begin by the end of January.”

 

“The previous bridge at this location had been repaired so many times it wasn’t even worth fixing,” said City Engineer Uzo Ahiarakwe. “Many folks doubted our decision to rebuild a new bridge, but here we are, to open this bridge. It didn’t even take us a year to build.”

 

“This bridge has been on our minds for a long time,” said Venice Park Civic Association President Augusta Garrett. “We have gone over and over with previous mayors complaining about it, and we are grateful that nobody was hurt in past years because of the faults of this bridge. It is a great day in Venice Park!”

 

First Bridge, located along Ohio Avenue, crosses over Penrose Canal. It features six-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge. Construction began in November 2021.

 

Mayor Small, along with members of his administration and the Venice Park Civic Association cut a ribbon to officially reopen the bridge. Mayor Small then took the first ride over the bridge.