Tanner Street Work May Still Be 3 Weeks Away from Completion

The Tanner Street road and sidewalk project is still two to three weeks away from completion.

The yearlong project was scheduled to be done no later than Sept. 17. But construction vehicles still rumbled down the narrow corridor this week, shaking the shops and restaurants in the borough historic district.

Todd Day, the borough’s engineering professional from Remington & Vernick, said Monday he thought the project is three weeks away from completion. Contractors have told the borough they think the work will be done in two weeks. 

Cherry Hill-based Paramount Enterprises is requesting an additional 14 days be granted to the contract for inclement weather to avoid fees that start at $500 per day for every day over the completion date until the work is done. Day said he thought a maximum of 11 days could be granted, but borough commissioners argued the contractor did not deploy enough workers on clear days and thus should be awarded few, if any, extra days.

Day said he was primarily pushing to get the work done and had not yet disputed any claims by the contractor to receive additional time without penalty. Officials also noted the contractor's mother died earlier this month.

Merchants on Tanner Street have complained in recent weeks that the project to replace aging sewer and utility lines and improve the streetscape had already put some stores out of business. They said customers have told them they were afraid to walk down the street because of its condition.