Cape May Seawall & Promenade Project Gets $24.3M Funding

A section identified as a major weak point after Superstorm Sandy will finally be rebuilt.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security has approved over $24.3 million in federal funding for the Cape May City Seawall Flood Mitigation Project. The project will extend the existing seawall and promenade from Madison Ave to Wilmington Ave, addressing a vulnerable area identified after Hurricane Sandy's devastating impact in 2012.

Why it matters

The existing Cape May seawall was built after the 1962 storm, which devastated the city's beachfront. This new project aims to strengthen the city's coastal defenses and protect against future storm surges and flooding, which have become more frequent and severe due to climate change.

The details

The plans for the seawall and promenade improvement were drawn up in 2022, but the work had been needed since Sandy's storm damage in 2012. The project will extend the seawall and promenade from the existing area just east of Madison Ave to Wilmington Ave and down Wilmington Ave.

  • The authorization for the $24.3 million in federal funding was confirmed on February 20, 2026.
  • Cape May intends to put the bid out for the job as soon as the grant is fully processed and to hopefully start construction in fall 2026.

The players

U.S. Rep Jeff Van Drew

A U.S. Representative who confirmed the authorization of the $24.3 million in federal funding for the Cape May Seawall Flood Mitigation Project.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

The federal agency that approved the over $24.3 million in funding for the Cape May seawall project.

Cape May City

The coastal city in New Jersey that is undertaking the seawall and promenade improvement project.

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What they’re saying

“This is a major breakthrough for Cape May and for our entire shoreline. This section of Cape May was identified after Hurricane Sandy as a serious weak point, and that vulnerability has not gone away.”

— Jeff Van Drew, U.S. Representative (973espn.com)

What’s next

Cape May intends to put the bid out for the job as soon as the grant is fully processed and to hopefully start construction in fall 2026.

The takeaway

This federal funding for the Cape May seawall project represents a critical investment in strengthening the city's coastal defenses against the growing threats of storm surges and flooding driven by climate change. By addressing a vulnerable section identified after Hurricane Sandy, the project aims to better protect Cape May's residents and businesses from future extreme weather events.