By: Najla Alexander
Carteret officials announced that the Borough has won a $672,408 competitive grant from the state Department of Transportation through the Local Aid Fund.
The Honorable Mayor Daniel J. Reiman has announced that the funds will be used for roadway and intersection improvements on Hermann Avenue, as well as Poplar and Willow streets.
In addition to much-needed roadway infrastructure improvements, the project will focus on pedestrian safety by installing ADA-compliant curb ramps and highly visible crosswalks at all intersections, Carteret officials said.
According to Carteret officials, Hermann Avenue is one of the Borough’s main residential roads that connects directly to Carteret Junior High, Carteret High School, and their Walter B. Overholt Jr. Memorial Stadium.
“The Borough seeks to create safer roadways for motorists and pedestrians alike,” Mayor Reiman said. “We are very grateful to Gov. Phil Murphy and Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor for these incredibly valuable funds. Local Aid funding will ensure the Borough is able to elevate these roads to their full potential.”
The proposed scope of work includes milling and repaving the top layer of asphalt on all three streets, partial base repair in degraded portions of Poplar, and full reconstruction of Willow, according to Carteret officials.
The improvements will require about 1,830 tons of surface-course hot-mix asphalt (HMA) and 635 tons of base-course HMA, according to Carteret officials.
Caretret officials said that the project will also focus on pedestrian safety by replacing 32 curb ramps on the three roads, as well as two Hermann Avenue speed humps, which will be brought up to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards for traffic markings and signage.
All curbs and driveway aprons along Willow and Poplar also will be replaced, as will sections of curb and gutter along Hermann between Park Place and Washington Avenue, Carteret authorities say.
According to Carteret officials, the Borough previously received nearly $10 million from NJDOT to improve Carteret Avenue and to expand access to the waterfront and its forthcoming ferry service.