State OKs Funding for Next Boulevard Beautification Phase

Beautification of the borough's main business district continues to move forward as the state Department of Transportation has approved grant funding for a fifth phase of the Boulevard Streetscape project.

The borough will receive $146,500, according to a statement released by the state DOT Friday, which will fund improvements to the area of the Boulevard from Hamilton to Walter Avenue.

The borough has been funding the ongoing Boulevard improvement project predominantly through state grants. This is the fifth one the borough has received for this project. As Mike Kronyak, borough administrator, has explained to Patch previously which is the equivalent of one block, both sides, of the Boulevard.

which covers two blocks of the Boulevard from Jefferson up to Hamilton in late May. The borough's engineer Kenneth Job recommended to the council earlier this month they wait until after the May 20 street fair event to begin work.

The work will take about a month or so, Job told Patch, beginning with the removal of the existing trees that line the Boulevard, followed by the installation of new sidewalks and curbs. Spaces are left for the new lights, which will be installed by PSE&G and for the planting of new trees, according to Job.

The first two phases of the project - from Washington up to Jefferson - . The improvements include new sidewalks, pavers, benches and lighting.