Borough Awaits Answers From State for Water Basin and Flooding Woes

Borough officials continue to voice frustrations with the state Department of Transportation in regards to various issues that are still in need of solutions.

The main issues include remediation work to the water basin which the state DOT installed at the edge of Route 17 at Franklin Avenue as well as the ongoing flooding problem down at Williams Avenue and Route 17 which was so severe the roadway was closed for more than a day. that came a week later.

As for the , Kenneth Job called it a “promise broken” when he addressed the borough officials in regards to the status of the work as of early last week. The water basin was put in more than a year ago by the state replacing a traffic island which was there previously.

Since the area was converted into this basin, the borough officials say they have seen all of the problems they predicted would arise come about which includes lack of maintenance, issues with drainage and safety issues as officials have stated they have no access to the locked gate which borders the site.

As for the flooding situation at Route 17 and Williams Avenue by the Route 46 entrance, Job told the mayor and council that the borough is currently waiting for recommendations from the state in regards to the issue.

Job called previous attempts to alleviate the flooding in that area “band-aids” in that until pumps are put in to that area flooding after rains like Irene will occur.

Mayor Rose Heck stated that at one time the Meadowland Commission had promised to put in pumps but the project never came to be. She recommended that the borough go back to the commission in regards to what can be done to alleviate the problem.