Streetscape Improvement Work Will Not Begin Until Spring

Construction to revitalize the next two designated areas of the Boulevard as part of the borough’s ongoing streetscape plan will not begin until Spring.

Mike Kronyak, Borough Administrator told officials Tuesday night that Borough Engineer Ken Job reports that the project must wait until Spring due to many factors such as the upcoming holiday parade and shopping season along with the threat of delays that inclement winter weather could cause.

Kronyak explained that if the project were to begin now and severe weather occurred, the project could be delayed a week or more which would be disastrous for the merchants.

Since Job’s last report, red line drawings from PSE&G have been received and a preconstruction meeting took place, Kronyak said.

The work will install new sidewalks, lighting and walkways to both sides of the Boulevard from Jefferson up to Hamilton Avenue. Work to the first two phases, the Boulevard from Washington up to Jefferson is complete with the exception of some light fixtures PSE&G needs to take down, Job reported previously.

Funding for the project mostly comes from grants from the state Department of Transportation. The borough has received four grants to date each which went towards the improvement work for all the phases, which is the equivalent of one block both sides of the Boulevard.

To date the borough has received $590,000 from the state towards the work and has which will be the area of the Boulevard from Hamilton to Walter Avenue. The borough has added on $160,000 towards engineering and additional costs for the four phases of the project to date.