Carteret, NJ – Mayor Daniel J. Reiman and Councilwoman Iris Colon, Public Works Chairwoman, have announced that Carteret’s Herman Avenue upgrade project has been awarded to F&P Contractors, of South Amboy. The project was first announced last fall, when the Borough was awarded a $310,017 grant by the N.J. D.O.T. to assist with construction costs..
Beginning in July, Hermann Avenue will undergo complete reconstruction, and receive new ADA curb cuts at intersections. Repairs and upgrades will cover over ¼ mile of Hermann Avenue, from Washington Avenue to Clifford Street. In addition to being in a densely populated residential area, Hermann Avenue runs adjacent to Carteret High School and its sports complex. According to Mayor Reiman, this portion of the street has been subjected to considerable wear and tear, and upgrades have been long overdue for its pedestrian and handicapped amenities.
Hermann Avenue is one of many local roads to receive upgrades in the last few years. Damaged streets that are also some of the town’s most traveled roadways have been target areas in a selection process that has accounted for over $2 million in improvements since 2007 alone. In 2008, Mayor Reiman announced that $910,000 in funding would be applied to the resurfacing of Carteret Avenue, Sharot St., Willow Street, and Charlotte St..
As a part of the administration’s ongoing Road Improvement Program, various street improvement projects have gone beyond routine maintenance. The scope of this and recent years’ upgrades have represented the largest road improvement project undertaken in Carteret. Many of the Borough’s streets have been resurfaced through an inter-local paving program with Middlesex County, in which the Middlesex County Public Works Dept. has milled, repaired and resurfaced the top 2-inches of roadway, at a fraction of the cost a private contractor would have charged. These projects are expected to add roughly ten years to their lifespan.
In addition to the Hermann Ave improvements, Mayor Reiman and the Borough Council have approved the rehabilitation of George Court, Leber Street, and Birch Street as part of a greater ongoing road improvement program. The estimated total project cost for these improvements alone is $300,000.
Mayor Reiman said, “We’ve been looking into the future with many of our capital improvement projects, identifying areas in need and providing comprehensive repairs and enhancements that will last us many years. With this ongoing regimen we hope to address a number of residential areas that are thoroughly travelled by motorists, and making them conducive to walking, running, and cycling. We don’t take for granted that our streets play a significant role in the quality of life of our residents, on a daily basis.”
This portion of Hermann Avenue’s repairs will include reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of existing curbs with new concrete curbs and gutters, replacement of deteriorated sidewalks, upgrades for all handicap ramps, and inlet repairs.
The total estimated construction cost for this portion of the project is $368,644.00. Construction is expected to be complete by Fall 2009.
