Eagle Rock Redevelopment Project Underway

Construction is finally underway for the redevelopment project on Eagle Rock Avenue in West Orange that would aesthetically alter the area with new sidewalks and lighting. Township officials say the project is a much-needed facelift to the downtown corridor. 

"The fact that construction has started is great for the town, it's going to improve visually and cosmetically," said Mayor Robert Parisi, at a groundbreaking ceremony last week. "It's an older area of town with a lot of traffic, so obviously sidewalk streets get beat up a little bit. Intersections that seemed like they made sense 40 years ago maybe could be designed and improved visually."

Pioneered by the Downtown West Orange Alliance, the project is part of a $2.2 million federal grant that was awarded to the township through the Federal Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2005.

"I am confident that this federal investment will help West Orange use a vibrant business district to build a stronger sense of community,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8), who, as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, designated the allocation of funds for the West Orange streetscape project.  "This streetscape project will promote active, healthy living by encouraging walking and safe access to shopping, restaurants and other activities."

The grant will cover the construction costs of two separate projects on the Eagle Rock and St. Mark's intersections. 

"We developed two projects on either side of the town to create this gateway into the downtown," said Mark W. Kataryniak, traffic sub-consultant for the project. 

Denise Esposito, executive director of the Downtown West Orange Alliance,  said the project will provide new sidewalks with brick pavers, new pedestrian lighting and new traffic signals with cameras. She said the federally funded project will cause no burden to local taxpayers, and will rake in new foot traffic to benefit local businesses. 

The traffic island in front of Our Lady of Lourdes church will be eliminated to make room for a larger pedestrian plaza with seating, according to Leonard Lepore, director of the West Orange department of public works and deputy head of engineering. The connector lane from Harrison to Eagle Rock avenues will also be eliminated, but car traffic will be able to turn on to Eagle Rock Avenue by going straight and making a full right turn, he said. 

Aside from aesthetics, the redevelopment will also relieve traffic flow. 

"We're doing some modifications to the curb line, we're putting in brand new signals, that have cameras to monitor traffic," said Kataryniak. "Traffic congestion is something that deters people from wanting to come down and do shopping."

Several empty store fronts already line Main Street as some business are struggling to stay alive. 

"I'm about to close," said Maxine Hines, owner of Divine Beauty Salon on Main Street. She said her salon business has been around for more than two years but "not many people walk by." She's hopeful the construction will open the floodgates to pedestrian traffic. "This is the deadest area right now and I'm starting to get into my personal money to pay rent." 

Older businesses like Gaffer's Pub on Main Street that are doing well said the project will give the area a much-needed rennovation. "It's definitely worn-down," said Christie Grivner, the restaurant's manager. "You start seeing a lot of empty store fronts so hopefully by doing this, a lot of new businesses will come into the area."

All who attended the groundbreaking ceremony Friday said the project has been a long time coming. "We got federal funding about six years ago," said Esposito. Construction, though, began in May of this year.  

Since the federal grant money will only cover construction and material costs, it was up to the township to pay for the engineering design and construction oversight. "Because of budget cuts, it took a while to find that money," said Esposito. 

According to Lepore, the township paid approximately $415,000 for the engineering design and inspection. The money was taken from West Orange capital monies from the 2008-09 budget.

Birdsall Engineering is overseeing the project.  

The construction on the intersection of Eagle Rock Avenue with Harrison Avenue, Main Street and Mississippi Avenue is slated to be completed in July. Redevelopment of the St. Mark's intersection with Northfield Avenue will also begin in July. 

"Construction is going to impact traffic but we're hopefully going to minimize it," said Lepore. Lanes will close only during non-rush hours. But because much of the work is behind the curb, Lepore said it will inconvenience pedestrians more than motor vehicles. 

[Editor's note: This story first published May 17 at 7 a.m.]