Politics & Government
Council Awards $10M Contract For South Brunswick Library Construction Project
Township residents will pay around 50 cents on the dollar for the project, officials said. Construction is expected to last 18 months
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — During the last Council meeting, members adopted a resolution awarding a contract for the construction of the South Brunswick Public Library.
According to the resolution, $10,271,000 was awarded to Shorelands Construction, Inc. of Monmouth Beach, NJ for the Christopher J. Killmurray Building construction project.
This marks a major step forward in the Library’s expansion and renovation project plan.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There were eight bids submitted for the project and the sealed bids were opened on April 11, at the South Brunswick Municipal Building, according to officials.
The current project includes interior renovations, such as HVAC repairs and ADA upgrades, plus a 10,400-square-foot wing and an enlarged parking area. The wing will include a lobby, large meeting room and a 128-seat auditorium with a stage.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The library expansion and renovation project is supported by funds from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act, which was passed by the NJ Legislature and signed into law in the summer of 2017. NJ voters overwhelmingly approved Ballot Question No. 1 authorizing $125 million in bonds for library construction during the statewide election in the fall of 2017.
Funds also come from a competitive Construction Bond Act grant of $3,586,852 awarded in 2020 in the amount.
Additionally, Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman obtained a federal funding grant for $405,000 while Sen. Andrew Zwicker and Assembly members Sadaf Jaffer and Roy Freiman secured a $500,000 state grant to support the necessary upgrades.
Mayor Charlie Carley and Council members have committed the remaining funds from the township. Township residents will pay approximately 50 cents on the dollar for the project, officials said.
The South Brunswick Public Library Foundation is overseeing a capital campaign to raise additional funds for the project, with the Friends of SBPL a major donor.
Construction is expected to begin in the late summer or early fall and will last about 18 months. During construction, the Library will have some occasional closings or brief interruptions in service.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
