(AP) - For nearly a century, Ocean City's boardwalk helped define the image and identity of the family-friendly southern New Jersey shore resort.

But an ongoing project to replace sections of the cherished walkway is giving residents and visitors a glimpse of Ocean City without the boards.

About three blocks have been ripped out, and only sand remains in some spots as the work progresses. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that it's being done now to avoid disrupting the spring and summer beach seasons.

Backhoes, bulldozers and cranes are scraping away at the sand and moving wooden pilings into place, and drills are boring deep holes in the ground to anchor the boards.

The city is spending $10 million over the next five years on boardwalk replacement work.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com

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