Boulevard Revitalization Project to Start in March

By the time spring officially gets here, work to revitalize the next two sections of the Boulevard which are slated for improvements should be underway.

Borough Engineer Kenneth Job told the governing body during the work session meeting last week the construction for the next two phases of the Boulevard Streetscape project, from Jefferson up to Hamilton avenues, should begin mid to late March provided the weather stays warm. In October, officials agreed to wait until spring to begin the work in as it was believed there would not be enough time to complete the project before the cold temperatures set it.

This ongoing project, which began about two years ago, is being conducted in phases as per funding from the state Department of Transportation. The borough has received grants for the four phases of the project thus far totalling $590,000 and has already applied for funding for the area of the Boulevard from Hamilton to Walter Avenue. The borough has added on about $160,000 towards engineering costs thus far, including the work which will begin this spring.

The area of the Boulevard from Washington to Kipp to Jefferson was completed in 2010. The improvements include new sidewalks, lighting and walkways to both sides of the Boulevard. 

Borough officials have said the goal is to revitalize the entire Boulevard up to the area of the circle at Passaic Avenue provided the borough can continue to receive grants from the state.

Although the first two phases – the Boulevard from Washington to Jefferson – are considered complete the borough is still waiting on PSE&G to take down the old cobra street lights.

Job said they need this to be taken care of in order to consider those phases of the project officially done.  The borough has been waiting close to two years for them to remove the old lights. Mayor Rose Heck suggested the borough contact the public service company once again via a letter to get after them to have this matter finally taken care of.