Officials Will Pay $10M To Help Renovate 2 Parkway Rest Stops

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A plan to renovate a pair of rest stops on the Garden State Parkway – one in Bloomfield and another in Union – took another step forward Tuesday when officials approved a $10 million work contract.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which manages the parkway, recently announced that the McDonald's restaurants at the Brookdale South and Vauxhall service areas have closed. The plan is to replace them in 2023 with renovated facilities and several other restaurants, including Chick-fil-A, Burger King and Starbucks. Read More: 2 McDonald's Close On Parkway; Here's What Will Replace Them

The turnpike’s board unanimously voted to approve the agreement, which will reimburse Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco for $10 million that the companies plan to spend to build the new facilities, NJ.com reported.

When construction is complete in 2023, the Vauxhall restaurants will include Shake Shack, Popeyes, Dunkin' and a convenience store.

The Brookdale South restaurants will include Burger King, Starbucks and a convenience store. The rest stop will also have Chick-fil-A, according to turnpike officials, a choice that has caused controversy in Bloomfield.

• See related article: Chick-fil-A, Yay Or Nay? Chain Coming To Garden State Parkway
• See related article: Bloomfield Councilman Says Chick-fil-A Not Wanted On Parkway

According to the meeting agenda, here are some details about the non-competitive agreement approved Tuesday:

“On September 12, 2017, the authority entered into an agreement with HMS Host to reconstruct eight service area buildings and remodel seven service area buildings on the New Jersey Turnpike (Turnpike) & Garden State Parkway (Parkway). That agreement was transferred to Applegreen Ltd. on July 23, 2021. A similar agreement was executed with Sunoco to reconstruct fuel facilities at 21 services areas, including environmental remediation on the turnpike and parkway.”

The agenda continues:

“Two option sites on the Garden State Parkway, Brookdale South and Vauxhall Service areas, were recently added to the improvement program at the October 2021 commission meeting. The assigned operating agreement was authorized contingent upon agreed terms listed in a letter from the NJTA Law Department dated October 25, 2021. Furthermore, under the successor agreement to the 2017 HMS host agreement, the authority is responsible for work outside the curb line, while Applegreen Ltd. is responsible for work within the curb line along the perimeter of the buildings. The current Sunoco agreement provides that Sunoco is responsible for work that includes the fuel islands and fuel storage tanks.”

According to the board agenda:

“Having Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco contractors perform all the respective curb out work associated with the option site improvements will avoid conflicts and coordination issues with multiple contractors on site, including, but not limited to, parking area paving, curbing, utility relocations, security cameras and lighting, and environmental remediation. Therefore, it is within the authority's interests to have this work performed by Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco contractors and, subject to verification of costs, reimburse Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco, respectively, for all costs incurred for work that is otherwise the authority's responsibility under the existing Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco Agreements.”

Tuesday’s approval authorizes the executive director to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) memorializing the foregoing and permitting reimbursement to Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco for completing that portion of the option site improvements at Brookdale South and Vauxhall Service areas that are the authority's responsibility, in an amount not to exceed $10 million. The existing Applegreen Ltd. and Sunoco agreements will be subsequently amended to incorporate the MOU, the board noted.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.