Cones are already up along the highway, signaling the start of work.
Photo by RYAN MAYER, STAR NEWS GROUP
LAVALLETTE — Residents and business owners here enjoyed a summer break from highway construction, but school is now back in session and so is the roadway project.
Cones have already been set up along Route 35 in Lavallette, with one of the two lanes on the road’s southbound side blocked off. Paving machines will make their way through the borough, paving the right lane and shoulder first, then doubling back to pave the left side and shoulder, according to Mayor Walter LaCicero.
Beginning after the borough’s Founder’s Day celebration, the construction will take place one mile at a time per day, per lane, totaling seven days.
According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation [NJDOT], the construction that began this week will “complete drainage improvements, curb installation, ADA-compliant ramps, and signal improvements in advance of final paving.”
NJDOT plans to begin paving on Sept. 14.
Final paving will be completed on the northbound lanes beginning in October.
The Route 35 project is met with trepidation from many residents and officials, with some saying they take issue with the handicap ramps, the cones set up and the crosswalks.
Resident Joan Brackman approached the mayor and council at the Sept. 8 municipal meeting about issues she has with the crosswalks and handicap ramps.
“They’re going to do what they are going to do at this point,” Mayor LaCicero said, adding that despite any concerns with the design process, NJDOT is set in its decision.
According to Mayor LaCicero, what he has gathered from NJDOT is, “this is what the design is, you had your chance to comment in the design phase, we ignored your comments anyway, so you’re getting what you are getting.”
NJDOT did not return calls for comment by press time.
The construction timeline was discussed between NJDOT and Lavallette, particularly the Lavallette Business Association [LBA].
Mark Speaker, vice president of the LBA, said that the businesses had a discussion on how they would like to see the project completed, as per a request from NJDOT.
“It [the decision] pretty much came back that let’s just get it done. We are ready for this to be over,” he said.
Mr. Speaker said that some businesses will be closed during the time that the construction is taking place — hopefully only a few days.
Mr. Speaker said the outreach team for NJDOT has been very helpful, explaining that they are on the street during construction, offering to help or solve any problem that may arise.
Rebecca Malloy, president of the LBA, agreed with Mr. Speaker, saying that above all, the LBA members want business to return to normal.
“We are eager to get the project finished, and we are in the home stretch and we are going to cooperate and get the project done as quickly as possible,” Ms. Malloy said.
The timeline is shortened thanks to the one-zone system. Instead of lasting six weeks, the project will be completed in half the time. The project could have been completed in two separate zones, taking twice the time, but the LBA and local officials agreed that a one-zone project would be more beneficial.
Mr. Speaker said Mayor LaCicero is very supportive of the businesses and their decision to have the construction completed in one period. He said the mayor realizes the businesses are not the only part of town, but are a large part of the town.
“He will back our decision,” Mr. Speaker said.
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