Huge Construction Project In Hoboken: Water Mains, Repaving

HOBOKEN, NJ — A major construction project is about to kick off in Hoboken, officials announced Friday.

On or about Monday, Sept. 16, construction will begin on the first phase of planned water main upgrades for eight locations in Hoboken, city officials stated.

A total of 15 blocks – more than 7,000 linear feet – of Hoboken’s oldest water mains will be replaced as part of the overall effort, officials said.

Upgrades will include new water mains and service lines from the main to the curb, as well as road repaving, green infrastructure, and safety improvements related to the City of Hoboken’s “Vision Zero” initiative to make streets safer for all users and eliminate traffic-related deaths and injuries by 2030.

Construction will begin on Monroe Street between 8th and 11th Streets.

The 7,000 linear feet of water main replacements include the following locations:

• 1st Segment: Monroe St - 8th St to 11th St (Fall 2019)
• 2nd Segment: Garden St - Observer Hwy to 2nd St (Fall 2019)
• 3rd Segment: Bloomfield St - 2nd St to 4th St (Fall 2019/Winter 2020)
• 4th Segment: Garden St - 3rd St to 5th St (Winter 2020)
• 5th Segment: Jefferson St - 8th St to 9th St (Winter 2020)
• 6th Segment: Jefferson St - 10th St to 11th St (Winter 2020)
• 7th Segment: Monroe St - 3rd St to 4th St (Winter/Spring 2020)
• 8th Segment: Garden St - 12th St to 14th St (Spring 2020)

The project will take about eight months and should be completed in the spring of 2020. Water main replacements will take place this spring and winter, while the safety upgrades, green infrastructure and paving will occur in the spring. Road closures should be anticipated for the project areas, officials said.

The safety improvements include high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant crosswalk ramps, enhanced bicycle lanes, painted curb extensions, and intersection daylighting, officials said.

Green infrastructure, in the form of subsurface stormwater detention structures will be installed at four locations to absorb rainwater and reduce flooding, officials stated.

Earlier this year, Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced a new long-term service contract with Suez Water to operate Hoboken’s water system, and to establish a new public water utility managed by the city. The new contract provides for an unprecedented $33 million invested into water infrastructure upgrades over the next 15 years, an average of six times more than the previous contract.

• See related article: Hoboken, Suez Water Reach Deal With $33M In 'Critical Upgrades'

"My administration is committed to upgrading Hoboken’s infrastructure, and that starts with our aging water main system," Bhalla said. "These water main replacements are the start of our ambitious goal to independently replace over 14,000 feet, or 2.7 miles of our water main system over the next two years."

Bhalla continued:

"This investment, along with the $33 million provided through the SUEZ contract, will replace 18% of our entire water system by 2034. As a part of the project, we’re also including pedestrian safety upgrades, as well as reducing rainfall flooding with green infrastructure. Together, these upgrades address major quality of life issues for the residents of Hoboken."

For more information on the first phase of the water main replacement project, visit https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/drinking-water-infrastructure-upgrades-phase-1

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Hoboken Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com