DENNISVILLE – At its Sept. 12 regular meeting, Dennis Township Committee received an update from Committee member Lisa Salimbene on the completion of a bike trail connection.
Salimbene reported, “Connecting our township to the county bike path has been a three-year journey which all started with my campaign promise to the community.
“My main goal after being elected was to work tirelessly to make my promise a reality. As is true with all major projects, no one can do it alone, and from the very start our mayors and committee have been hugely supportive.”
Township engineer, Jack Gibson, whom Salimbene cited as “being instrumental in the project’s success,” noted, “our two separate bike path projects both enjoy a county Open Space grant. The current project is a looped bikeway adjacent to the township recreation complex, which we are awarding the green light for construction tonight (Sept. 12).
“I’m recommending that the contract for this smaller bike path be awarded to Lindemon Contracting of Cape May Court House for $185,829. This was the lowest of the eight bids we received.”
The committee followed Gibson’s recommendation and made the award.
“The larger project is part of the countywide north-south bikeway which currently awaits permission from Atlantic City Electric for utilization of a portion of their right of way, before proceeding to the next step,” Gibson continued.
Salimbene continued the description of these projects, “Jack and I have walked through water, fields of weeds and countless areas of rough terrain to get a firsthand account of the bike path’s total route. Jack is the brains of this operation, without his knowledge, this project would have remained just a dream.
“The county Open Space Board has been indispensable in the execution of the funding for the bike path. Without the thumbs up from the board and their funding, this project would be out of reach for the residents of Dennis Township financially.
“Atlantic City Electric and many departments there have played an important role in making the bike path a reality. Admittedly, at times it was frustrating to have the process move so slowly. It looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, finally on this needed piece.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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