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AVALON – In an executive order, issued April 8, Gov. Phil Murphy directed all non-essential construction in the state to stop by 8 p.m. April 10. The order is a further escalation of the state’s lockdown measures designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Murphy’s order was discussed at the Avalon Borough Council meeting April 8, before the document was formally issued.
The order contains exemptions for certain public construction projects, including those that involve hospitals, transportation initiatives, affordable housing, emergency repairs and utility work.
The impact on private construction projects is less clear. Landscapers and house painters can continue working by following strict social distancing guidelines. Construction projects already started may continue under the same distancing restrictions. No more than five individuals may work on a given job site at any one time.
Projects approved and permitted but have not yet begun will not be allowed to start. Further clarifications of this order are likely in the coming days.
Executive Order 122 is the 11th such order issued in the first eight days of April, bringing the total to 21 since the COVID-19 Task Force was established, in February.
