Delays Could Cost County $2M for Storm Damaged Roads

CREST HAVEN – On storm-ravaged county roads, time will equal big bucks, big as in $2 million. That’s because if the county expects to get 100 percent reimbursement from the federal government for Hurricane Sandy-battered road repairs, it better get cracking.
County Engineer Dale Foster updated the freeholder board Dec. 27 on his department’s recent meeting with representatives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Because of Sandy, which struck Oct. 29, and because President Obama ordered federal agencies to make emergency relief funds available quickly, an extra $10 million for New Jersey was made available. That additional sum, announced Dec. 6 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, brought to $20 million in “quick release funds.”
Quick, as defined by the government, said Foster, is done in 180 days of the storm. Subtract 60 days since then, and the county is looking at 120 days to do monumental repairs to a variety of roads, including nearly $11 million to fix Ocean Drive in Avalon from Fourth Avenue to Townsend’s Inlet Bridge. The ocean washed away a portion of that road, and Foster earlier estimated the repairs would not be completed until sometime in spring, possibly near Easter.
Foster handed freeholders a list of eight projects that totaled $14.8 million, and which the county has a potential of received $11.1 million in FHWA funding.
Foster said the incentive to get work done fast and right is 100 percent reimbursement if work is completed in 180 days of the storm. If not done in the time span, even if it’s 181st day, the reimbursement drops to 80 percent. That translates into $2 million, said Foster.
For that reason, he offered an option to possibly include a cash incentive to a contractor to complete the work within the stringent limit. In the private sector, that could happen faster than with a government job. That’s because bidding procedures must be followed, which, even if expedited, take precious time.
“As you can see, we put in $14.8 million in claims to Federal Highway Administration. The biggest is Ocean Drive in Avalon at Townsend’s Inlet for almost $11 million. We were very concerned not knowing if they (FHWA) would accept our plan because the price tag was so large,” said Foster.
He said if the agency deems the work a permanent restoration, done in 180 days, 100 percent reimbursement is possible. He noted the $2 million that delay could cost the county as a reason an extra effort ought to be “put forth.”
As any engineer would advise a client, Foster told the board, “It will be a major lift to get that project done in four months, for a contractor to get that work done.”
To expedite work, Foster advised the county consider advance ordering of reinforced steel that will be needed in the bridge repair, since that would speed the project so the contractor will not be delayed.
Offering a contractor and incentive of, perhaps, $200,000 might be sufficient to speed the work along, using overtime incentives or double shifts, he said.
And, since the work must be done so quickly, Foster advised “having steep penalty” clauses for delays.
Timing for a rush job could not come at a worse time, Foster told the board. One reason cited was the probability of nor’easters that pummeled the road just the day prior to the meeting. That storm caused storm waves to crash over the seawall, Foster related.
“The gun went off two months ago,” stated Freeholder Will Morey.
Add to those holidays, and the situation seemed even grimmer.
There are other road repairs that must be completed, too, Foster said.
One of them is in actually located in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, where Ocean Drive’s Ocean City-Longport Bridge (also known as Gardens Parkway) at the north end of the bridge where roadway and parking lot repairs are needed. That project is estimated to cost $673,000 with an expected reimbursement of about $501,000.
Other Ocean Drive repairs are underway in Strathmere from Corson’s Inlet Bridge to Rush Chattin Bridge, estimated at $2.4 million, with reimbursement of $1.7 million anticipated.
Navigation lights on Ocean Drive over Middle Thorofare, Townsend’s Inlet, Corson’s Inlet and Route 9 over Great Egg Harbor Bay are expected to cost nearly $13,000, and various traffic signal repairs at about $46,000. Both are expected to be fully reimbursed.
Quick release emergency funds provided by FHWA are used for a variety of repairs to roads, bridges and tunnels that are immediately necessary. New Jersey will repair roadways and bridges-work that is imperative to get ready for the 2013 beach season, which is a huge economic generator for the state, according to a FHWA release.
“New Jersey can rely on us during this difficult time,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “We will continue to provide support and financial assistance during the region’s ongoing recovery.”
FHWA’s emergency relief program provides funds for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. Restoring critical infrastructure is essential to enabling first responders and relief workers to access impacted communities and to quickly restoring services to impacted residents.
Foster said one reason the county expects to get full reimbursement for the traffic signals is because they are used along escape routes in the flood-prone and difficult to evacuate county.