South Park Street To Be Closed For Weeks

The South Park Street redevelopment project is several weeks behind schedule due to delays caused by weather and the relocation of PSE&G facilities, township officials said. In order to bring the project back on track, the entire street will be closed to vehicular traffic, effective Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, June 22. Sidewalks on both sides will be open to pedestrian traffic for access to businesses and to pass between Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue.
 
Work on street improvements was suspended for three days because of rain last week and rain is forecast for all of this week. In addition, construction crews are waiting for PSE&G to complete work on electrical facilities, which is preventing sidewalk and curb work completion on the east side. PSE&G was scheduled to complete the electrical work this week, but it will be pushed back at least one week because of weather conditions.

Earlier this month, township officials said that a gas leak would not impact the progress or even the costs associated with the South Park Street project.

In March, the township broke ground on South Park Street streetscape improvements, intended to add a new center median, wide pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, a midblock crosswalk, and roadway resurfacing.

The new South Park Street will also feature some creative applications of materials. The new median will be constructed of granite blocks, most often used for curbs. Colorful new sidewalks will be made of concrete, and brick and granite pavers will be set in various patterns to create visual interest. The project was originally expected to be completed by July 1, 2012.

Download South Park Street improvements plan here.

Work on the project began after the council awarded a contract for $901,581 to D&S Land Development in March for the improvement project.

The council also agreed to purchase $45,200 in decorative street lighting for the project from Turtle and Hughes Inc.

Last fall, the council voted to rebid the South Park Street redevelopment project, a scheme originally scheduled to be completed by Oct. 1, 2011.

That move was necessary, councilors said, after bids all came in last year at more than $1 million for a project originally slated to cost $750,000.

The council voted unanimously in October 2011 to allocate another $250,000 for the project and new bids were sought with an eye towards starting the project in the spring and completing it by July 1.