Anti-Flooding Upgrades Near Hoboken ShopRite To Start Monday

HOBOKEN, NJ — The city of Hoboken and North Hudson Sewerage Authority plan to start upgrading portions of upper Madison Street to reduce flooding this coming Monday. The affected blocks will be Ninth to Eleventh streets, areas that often flood — including alongside ShopRite at 900 Madison St.

In fact, two summers ago, a sudden rainstorm actually surrounded the supermarket parking lot in water, making it difficult for shoppers to leave.

Hoboken is also planning a development project to replace the Amazon warehouse just west of the ShopRite.

The city said, "Over the next two months, NHSA will relocate approximately 275 linear feet of electrical duct bank along the west curb line of Madison Street from 11th Street to Ninth Street."

Phase II of the project, this coming summer, will upgrade and expand the combined sewer, replace an outdated water main, and elevate and reconstruct the roadway with Vision Zero safety improvements, the city said.

"These improvements will direct rainfall into the updated sewer system to convey stormwater into the trunk line at 11th Street, mitigating the recurring rainfall flooding in the area," the city said in a release.

“We must continue to address flooding caused by more severe heavy rain events," said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “Thanks to NHSA for partnering with my administration."

“We are very pleased to be able to address this longstanding problem in northwest Hoboken, especially now that the area has become a vibrant residential section of the city,” said NHSA Executive Director Dr. Richard J. Wolff.

“Madison Street residents have patiently waited for these necessary infrastructure improvements to take place,” said 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen in a statement. “Pre-existing electrical and sewer infrastructure created complex issues requiring significant planning, engineering, inter-agency coordination, and City Council approval."

In addition to the Madison Street upgrades, Hoboken’s Northwest Resiliency Park is slated to open later this year to provide underground water detention and above ground green infrastructure.

Traffic Issues

During Madison Street construction, traffic control will be coordinated with other construction projects in the area, the city said. Parking will be restricted at certain times, and will be noted on the city’s website at www.hobokennj.gov/hoboken-construction-updates.

For more information on the project, go to https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/9th-madison-infrastructure-upgrades.