FROM THE RETROSPECT (Brett Ainsworth)
September 22, 2006
Brett Ainsworth
After many promised starts, the Haddon Avenue streetscape project may finally get underway within the next two months.
Haddon Township engineer Anthony LaRosa reported at Tuesday’s commission caucus meeting that New Jersey Department of Transportation officials okayed streetscape plans.
But, he noted, final approval comes from federal officials, which means no guarantees can be made about the start date.
If this seems like déjà vu, well, much the same was said in April of this year with work supposed to commence over the summer. LaRosa outlined the current scenario.
The $1 million project will take at least four months, LaRosa said, not including the bid process. At next week’s meeting, the commissioners can approve sending the project out to bid with contractors. After a few weeks, the bid packets will be returned and opened. Unless the commissioners hold a special meeting, the job will be awarded at the October 24 meeting at the soonest. Work could commence soon after.
LaRosa acknowledged that work plans would need to accommodate the holiday season to avoid disruption for merchants. Contractors, he said, would scale back operations by Thanksgiving with an emphasis on areas that would not impede shoppers.
The scope of the project includes decorative street light fixtures with brackets for banners, flower pots and electrical outlets for holiday decorations. Decorative brick pavers and traffic calming bumpouts are part of the project’s goal of improving the environment for pedestrians. Other items to be installed include parking meters, which Haddon Township does not currently have, and bicycle racks. Curbing that is in poor condition will be replaced and tree plantings are also planned.
The approximately $1 million project is backed by a $700,000 federally-funded grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation in two phases. The project area runs from the Cuthbert Rd. intersection to Glenwood Ave., which is just shy of the DyDee project area.
LaRosa added that agreements should be reached shortly with PSE&G to order and install the new street light fixtures. Poles take at least six to 12 weeks to arrive.