Sunset Boulevard Plans Presented

WEST CAPE MAY – The preliminary road presentation profile of the Sunset Boulevard Improvement Project, a county project held by NV5, outlined the proposed details for upgrading Sunset Beach in Lower Township to Broadway (CR626) in West Cape May.
NV5 is a company providing engineering/consulting services and specialists with offices nationwide and abroad, with a concentration on environmental issues. 
Drew Markewicz, director of Highways and Utilities, NV5, from Parsippany, led the Oct. 3 meeting at West Cape May’s Borough Hall, with a schematic proposal of improvements for Sunset Boulevard.
Markewicz addressed the issue of flooding, a major concern to those who attended. He said plans include repaving the road using a porous material, which would help flooding issues, and though some upkeep would be necessary, the material used would drain into pipes installed 18 inches under the pavement, which Markewicz said could help reduce flooding from 50% to 75%. 
Also in the plans are segments of boardwalks for pedestrians ­– from Sunset Beach to Broadway, with crosswalks. The schematic included lighting on the boardwalks, which would be lit from dawn to dusk, preserving residents’ privacy, with the lighting rising 1 foot from the railings.
He said on and off-road shared-use paths, including widened bike paths and improved signage with new pavement markings, could help during the height of the season when road usage is heaviest. According to the plans, the existing crosswalks would remain the same.
As the area is home to wildlife as well as humans, many attendees were concerned about how this would affect their existing homes.
When questioned about the environmental effect, Markewicz said the plan would create “critter crossings” to accommodate animals conducive to where they live, including, but not limited to, turtle and deer protection.
A matter of interest was about the timing of the project. Markewicz said NV5 is aware of the area’s tourist season, as well as the annual bird migration. He said they would be working around those prime-impacted seasons.
 “This is still a very preliminary and tentative project, with lots of alternatives, which is why we are conducting this preview,” said Markewicz. “Though this will bring no private impact, we want as much public input as possible. 
“We have no funding in place as of now, and we have to go through phases before we can even begin work on Sunset Boulevard, which could take nine to 12 months for the final design, and from two to four years to complete.”
Phases include:
* Submitting to Cape May County with the preliminary concept
* Approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection
* Alternatives to final plans
* Easements from environmental commissions
* Final design approval
* Right-of-way permits 
To contact Jennifer Kopp, email jkopp@cmcherald.com.