The e-newsletters over the past several months have chronicled the progress of many of the City’s capital improvements. Now that the summer season is here, we try to limit the amount of construction taking place on public property, in order to minimize the disruption to our residents and visitors, as for many, this time of the year is precious. While we still have construction projects ongoing, and will continue to provide updates, we also are in the process of preparing and putting into place plans for the next round of capital improvements throughout the City. As part of this process, funding ordinances for several projects were introduced by City Council at the June 26th Council meeting. A summary of the projects is included in the Council message below. At the July 24th Council meeting, a second reading and public hearing will be held on these ordinances prior to council voting for adoption. This is the process that provides the required funding for capital projects. As these projects move forward through the design, bidding, and construction phases, we will continue to provide you with updates on their progress.
Phase 2 of Excursion Park, Beach to Bay Corridor (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) – This project involved streetscape improvements to the public corridor along JFK Boulevard from the Promenade to Landis Avenue, and widening of the sidewalks along each side of this corridor by 3 feet. The contractor, Fred M. Schiavone Construction, has substantially completed the project. New energy efficient, decorative street lighting and bollard lighting has been installed, and old utility poles were removed or replaced. Paver sidewalks were installed, and hanging flower baskets were placed on the light fixtures prior to the Memorial Day Weekend. In addition, an electronic informational kiosk was installed at the street end. This project completes the beach end improvements of the City’s “Beach to Bay Corridor” project, a comprehensive capital improvement connecting the beachfront to the public marina. The next major project on the corridor is the reconstruction of JFK Boulevard from Landis Avenue to the bridge (details below).
Demolition of Former Library/Beach Tag Facility and Conversion to Parking Lot – The parking lot was paved and lined prior to the Memorial Day weekend; and public parking is now available on the lot. The parking lot lighting has been installed; and we are waiting on completion of electrical work to power the irrigation system in order to complete landscaping on the project.
Construction of Welcome Center Addition to the Community Lodge and Renovations of the Existing Lodge Facility and Site – The contractor, R. Wilkinson and Sons, has completed the main lower roof on the Lodge and Welcome Center addition, with installation of the metal roof of the main entry pending delivery of materials. Interior wall construction has taken place over the past two weeks, with interior finish work to be performed over the next two weeks. Siding has been substantially completed on the building, with exterior finish work and signage to be installed over the next two weeks. The opening of the Welcome Center is anticipated to take place in the second half of July. The Community Lodge will remain open and all activities will continue as planned. The City will continue to use all of its efforts to minimize the inconvenience caused by the ongoing work. The project is the culmination of several years of public discussion about the need for a Welcome Center, as well as the need for continued utilization of the current lodge facility. Please see photos below of the new Welcome Center and Community Lodge, taken on June 27…
Improvements to T.I. Park (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) – The project has been substantially completed and the park has been reopened to the public. The project includes installation of new decking on the ramps, stairs, and pavilion area; repainting of the pavilion; and installation of new aluminum railings, providing for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Lagoon Dredging - The current status of the project is as follows:
*The contractor, Wickberg Marine Contracting of Belford, NJ, has completed dredging the western end of Rio Grande Lagoon and a portion of Rio Del Isole (along Venicean Road), as well as work around the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City.
*Dredging work has ceased for the summer season, and will re-commence after Labor Day, when the remainder of the lagoons will be dredged.
The lagoons to be dredged are as follows:
Rio Grande (south side of 47th Place)
Rio Delle Stelle (between 46th and 47th Place)
Rio Delle Luna (between 45th and 46th Place)
Rio Del Amore (between 44th Street and 45th Place)
Rio Delle Isole (along Venicean Road)
Rio Del Barche (between 43rd Place and 44th Street)
Rio Del Affare (between 42nd and 43rd Place)
Rio Delle Ponte (along Park Road on either side of 43rd Place)
The project provides for the ability of private property owners adjacent to the project area to enter into an agreement with the dredging contractor to dredge their private slips (at the private owner’s expense). In conjunction with the City project, properties at the above locations do have the required permit to perform private slip dredging.
As part of this project, consistent with the commitment to afford the opportunity to private property owners to have their slips dredged (at their own expense), the City continues to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to obtain permits for previously identified areas of need, including the western side of Venicean Road (along the intracoastal waterway) and along Sounds Avenue (in the area of 38th Street). Permits for these areas are not expected to be obtained until late summer or early fall, which will still allow time for these property owners to come to agreement with the dredging contractor to have their slips dredged prior to completion of the overall project.
Sewer and Road Reconstruction on Central Avenue, 49th to 69th Street (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) – The project has been contracted to the firm of Lewandowski Construction Industries, Inc., of Waterford, NJ. The project is being performed in two phases: the first being from 49th to 63rd Street, and the second phase from 63rd to 69th Street. The contractor has ceased construction operations for the summer season, and will start back up after Labor Day. Utility work was completed from 63rd Street to 55th Street, and the road surface was temporarily restored to allow for vehicular travel with no detours or obstructions over the summer. The remainder of phase one (to 49th Street), along with phase two (from 63rd to 69th Street), will be completed in the fall; after which the entire roadway will be resurfaced. The project will provide for an upgraded sewer system and new road surface for the entire one mile stretch of roadway. This section of sewer has been problematic for years, with continuous maintenance issues; and this project will not only provide for appropriate sewage infrastructure, it will assist in decreasing the amount of ground water sent to the county sewage treatment plant, thus saving in unnecessary costs associated with the treatment of “infiltration” water.
Utility Reconstruction on Landis Avenue (54th to 69th Street) – The project has been contracted to F.W.Shawl & Sons, of Marmora, NJ, and will provide for water and sewer line replacement in advance of the County project to resurface Landis Avenue from 54th to 69th Street. To date, the contractor has installed hydrant services, water main extensions out of several intersections, and new water services to adjacent properties. The contractor has completed temporary restoration of excavated road surfaces and ceased operations for the remainder of the summer; with work to resume in the fall. The County is scheduled to resurface Landis Avenue from 54th to 69th Street in the spring of 2013.
Inflow and Infiltration (I & I) Remediation (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) - The firm of Video Pipe Services, Inc. of Newfield, NJ, has substantially completed the major re-lining and repairs, but must complete some corrective work to internal repairs to finalize their contractual obligations. Some of this work may require excavation of the road surface, and if so, will not take place until the fall. The need for this project was identified over the past several years through a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the City’s sewer system. Sewer systems are prone to both inflow (overland water entering the sewer system through manhole covers and other surface openings in the system) and infiltration (entry of groundwater into pipelines through cracks, deteriorated pipe, and pipe joints). The effects of I & I are symptoms of deterioration of the sewer system that must be corrected to avoid more problematic maintenance issues and potential failure of the sewer system. I & I is also costly, in that the City must pay for the unnecessary treatment of water that enters the sanitary sewer system. This is the first phase of a multi-year citywide sewer maintenance and improvement project that will ensure the continued viability of the City’s vital sewer infrastructure. The next phase of I & I work will involve replacement of sewer lines that cannot be substantially corrected through internal, “no-dig” repairs, as are being performed in this phase. As those projects are engineered and prepared for bidding and construction, we will provide updates on the specific details of the projects.
Utility Reconstruction, Various Streets (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) – The project includes replacement of deteriorated underground utilities (water and sewer) in several streets, as part of the City’s comprehensive road and utility program. At the April 10th City Council meeting, Council authorized award of a construction contract for the project to Garden State General Construction, Inc., of Rio Grande, NJ, in the amount of $607,653.92. The construction work to perform the utility replacement will take place in the fall. Following utility work, the streets will receive new surface paving. The following streets are included in this project:
1. 50th Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
2. 51st Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
3. 60th Street, Landis Avenue to Central Avenue
4. 43rd Place street end with guide rail barrier
5. 42nd Street, Landis Avenue to Promenade
6. 79th Street, Landis Avenue to Central Avenue
7. 60th Street, Landis Avenue to Beach End
JFK Boulevard Reconstruction, from Bridge to Landis Avenue (NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE) - The County has been working with the City for design of the project to reconstruct and reconfigure JFK Boulevard from the bridge to Landis Avenue. The project limits also include reconstruction of Landis Avenue from JFK Boulevard to 40th Street. The project scope will include the addition of widened sidewalks, decorative lighting, streetscape improvements and landscaping, drainage improvements, and elevation of the road surface which will assist during times of flooding. The County Engineer and the design engineering firm of Urban Engineers (which is under contract to the County), along with the City Engineer, made a presentation on the JFK Boulevard project on March 7, 2012 in council chambers, at which those in attendance were informed of the project details and the proposed timing of the project. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 members of the public and the media, with the opportunity for questions and concerns to be raised. The engineers addressed issues relative to drainage, traffic, the proposed elevation of the road surface, changes to the road configuration, and the new streetscape. The project involves federal funding, and the next step is for the County to obtain authorization from federal and state agencies to proceed to bidding. The county expects to receive this authorization by July and put the project out to bid by the end of August in order to award a contract for a fall 2012 construction start. In this event, construction will take place between October 2012 and May 2013.
Turtle Sculptures - The City previously authorized the acquisition of two signature turtle sculptures, one for placement at the JFK and Pleasure Avenue corner of Excursion Park and the other at the north end entrance of Sea Isle. The sculptures were delivered to the City and installed at their respective locations on June 15th. Please see photos below of the new north end statue and of the dedication ceremony for the new statue at Excursion Park, which took place prior to the 2012 Sara the Turtle Festival on June 21. Shown during the dedication ceremony are (from left) City Council President John Divney, Dr. Irene Jameson, Mayor Leonard Desiderio, and City Councilmen Mike McHale and Bill Kehner. Also shown is “Mackie the Stilt Walker,” an entertainer at the Sara the Turtle Festival…
NEW STOP SIGNS ON CENTRAL AVENUE:
Please be aware that there are two new FOUR WAY STOP SIGNS now in place on Central Avenue at 59th and 63rd Streets (at Dealy Field). The new stop signs were installed to increase pedestrian safety near the Dealy Field Recreation Complex. Please see photos below of Central Avenue at 59th and 63rd Streets...
CHECK THIS OUT:
The next time you visit Excursion Park, walk to the center of the decorative brick compass at the base of the park and stand in the very middle. Then, speak out loud. The brick walls surrounding the compass have created an echo chamber, which is very easy to hear. Check it out…kids of all ages will get a kick out of this!
Brought to you by Jim Sofroney, General Manager/ Owner The Landis Co., Realtors, 6000 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243 609-263-3400, jws@LandisCo.com , www.LandisCo.com .
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