County Engineer Reports on Jobs, Troubles

CREST HAVEN – Imagine a little “bump” that amounted to about $4.6 million. That’s how much the county received as a “bump” to fund the Sea Isle City Boulevard raising project according to County Engineer Dale Foster.
At the June 10 freeholder caucus, Foster reported to the board that the federal government, which originally granted $9,049,000 for the project increased its share to $13.6 million. Foster said he was told by officials at the state Department of Transportation the amount was the largest sum given to a local project.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton asked Foster if he thought it possible to increase the aid from FEMA for mitigation projects to $63 million from $26 million.
“I’m sure we have some solid projects,” said Thornton. Foster replied he would have to do a cost-benefit analysis before seeking more aid. Thornton said he was “concerned about the short window” in which to apply. That deadline is July 25.
Foster reported that, due to summer when roads are busy, “We are looking to shut down as much construction as possible.”
The Bay Avenue, Ocean City project has been paved from 13th to 18th streets. Pavement markings began “this week,” said Foster. He added “We hope it’s wrapped up and we’re out of there next week.”
The project went well, he said. It will be completed in the fall, possibly late September of early October. “There have been quite a few issues from businesses along there,” he added. When work is resumed, from Sixth Street south to where the project stopped will be done in November, “when year-round businesses are less impacted by construction.”
Cape May Flooding
Foster also reported recent flooding in the vicinity of Pittsburgh Avenue and Beach Avenue.
When the city did its initial beach fill project in 1999, “We extended outfall pipes twice on Pittsburgh Avenue,” said Foster.
“What happened, when the feeder beach by the Coast Guard base” was replenished, “A lot of sand was drifting down? The outfall is buried in five feet of sand. That is what is causing the flooding problems. We just cannot extend the pipe,” said Foster.
“Probably in a month the sand will recede,” he said. The pipe is 48-inch diameter, and “holds a lot of water,” but it backs up onto Beach and Pittsburgh and causes flooding every other day,” he said.
Workers went to dig away the five feet of sand, and within six weeks, it was again buried. Two weeks ago, he said there was two feet of sand over it, and now it is up to five feet.”
Solar Speed Warning Signs
The county purchased 18 stationary speed limit signs, powered by the sun. Each municipality will get one, and the county will retain a couple for its own use, Foster told Freeholder Will Morey in response to a question about the signs.
Some are smaller, for use in residential areas, while others in rural areas are larger. They are programmable, and can retain data on speeds and times, but not license numbers.
And for speedsters who might want to clock their speedometers against the flashing sign, when speed exceeds 50 mph, the sign goes blank.
Foster said the data records time of day and speeds so that, should a community group seek to have a speed limit lowered, the county has information on file. Foster said all that is required to collect the data is a thumb drive and laptop connection.
“Would it be more effective to have them (municipalities) do that? Morey questioned. “We would want to keep track of the data in case they want to change a speed limit,” said Foster. Battery backups provide a week of energy if the clouds cover the sun.
Some of the signs are programmable, and could urge, “Slow Down.”
One of the first may be placed on Stone Harbor Boulevard in the vicinity of the Wetlands Institute, said Morey.