VILLAS – Lower Township Council approved an additional $500,000, at its Dec. 2 meeting, for a $1 million project to make “long overdue” improvements at Schellenger’s Landing, the gateway to Cape May.
After passing a $950,000 bond ordinance in October, Joseph Maffei, of Engineering Design Associates, told council there would be added costs for moving conduit to streetlights, which are to be moved by Atlantic City Electric (ACE), along with some electric supply cables discovered along an existing guardrail, which would need to be removed and placed underground. Costs were also increased due to some additional site clearing.
The total bond for the $1.5 million project is $1.425 million.
The project will make Schellenger’s Landing, from the base of the Route 109 bridge (Veterans Memorial) to the bridge entering Cape May, safer for pedestrians, and include American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible concrete sidewalks on both sides of the stretch of road, five red, brick crosswalks, traffic signals, signage, and rumble strips to slow drivers in the zone.
Electric poles in the area are to be relocated, which ACE agreed to do, as a matter of public safety, and at no cost to the municipality.
A proposed large, lighted sign above the road was rejected by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Maffei said plans for a revised sign are being prepared for resubmission to the DEP.
There was no public comment regarding the additional bonding.
Lower Township Mayor Erik Simonsen said the upgrades to the area, home to several popular eateries, marinas, shops, and some homes, was long overdue.
“That area of Lower Township has been overlooked for too long. We have been fiscally responsible, so we can invest there,” said Simonsen Dec. 3. “It’s an investment that will pay off in the future. It will make it safer for people who frequent the area. We envision it becoming a marina district.”
Simonsen said the South Jersey Transportation Authority has been working on a plan to fix a dangerous situation in the area, where drivers attempt to make a left turn out of Lucky Bones restaurant parking lot onto Route 109.
“It’s one of the first things I plan to look into as an assemblyman,” Simonsen said. Simonsen was elected to the state Assembly in November.
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