CREST HAVEN — There were plenty of million-dollar smiles at the Oct. 25 freeholder meeting, but not because anyone hit the Pick-6 Lotto jackpot.
County Engineer Dale Foster announced that he had received three letters that seemingly tapped the mother lode of federal aid to the county that will total $12.6 million. The money will mean miles of smooth traveling for motorists, jobs for construction workers and, in the end, faster ways to evacuate Sea Isle City.
Foster said that, prior to the recent announcement; the most the county ever received was $4.8 million through federal economic stimulus funds.
The money was available, “So we went out and grabbed it,” Foster said.
In the past he advocated having “shovel ready” projects in the event funding was available, application could be quickly made.
Largest of the projects will be the reconstruction of Sea Isle City Boulevard at $9 million with $7.3 million in aid.
“It was a shocker to me,” Foster told the board when he got the letter.
The project will raise the causeway from Garden State Parkway to the bridge over Intracoastal Waterway into the city.
Three culverts will be replaced with larger ones, he said.
The project will also include “turtle exclusion fence” to prevent Diamondback Terrapin females seeking high ground when nesting, from going onto the highway.
A bulkhead will be replaced with one made of steel, and a popular fishing-crabbing area will be upgraded.
Permits from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state Department of Environmental Protection are a must, as is a mitigation plan, since wetlands will be disturbed in the project.
While the roadway is being redone, South Jersey Gas will replace its gas main into Sea Isle City.
Utility poles on the north side of the road will be relocated to accommodate raising the road.
Wildlife concerns will also slow the project, Foster said.
Concern for ospreys will mean no work done within 1,000 feet of nesting ospreys.
Because of those wildlife restrictions, most work will be done in the fall and winter, Foster said.
The multi-year project, will likely take four years to complete, since marshland disturbed must sit idle to “surcharge.” said Foster.
Traffic signal upgrades on Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood, and 34th Street, Ocean City, will also be synchronized and upgraded in a $2.4-million project, which Foster has not yet received and authorization letter, but expects one shortly.
That project will make entry and exit from the cities better, Foster said.
A total 11 signals will be included.
In addition to the signals, sidewalks near them must be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act mandate.
A $2.4-million project will resurface New Jersey Avenue in Wildwood from Cresse Avenue in the south, bordering Wildwood Crest, and Youngs Avenue.
Deemed a “total reconstruction” the project will include 6.5 inches of gravel and roadbed, and will replace all sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
County crews will upgrade traffic signals.
Work is expected to begin on that project in January and be complete by next summer.
Sea Isle City – I would like to let everyone know that the fire chief salary also includes 4% raises in the next four years, while they offered public works and everybody else much less.
