PETERSBURG – Residents, pass-through travelers, and visitors have been suffering through traffic backups due to bridge and road construction in Tuckahoe.
Upper Township Committee met for its regular session Aug. 1 and learned that abutting Atlantic County requested an end to southbound detours on Route 50 that changed traffic patterns to Route 637 and onward to Head of the River.
Even though the bulk of this southbound traffic was an important route to shore communities in Cape May County, northbound traffic was still permitted to use the Tuckahoe Bridge under renovation.
Committeeman Jeffrey Pierson said, “Atlantic County complained about the traffic backups that occurred in neighboring Corbin City which were created by this detour and that every motorist in the area had been suffering through since Memorial Day when the detour was implemented.”
As had been reported in the Herald, the detour not only created traffic tie-ups along Route 50 but also on side streets and in the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management area as drivers sought shortcuts around the miles-long traffic congestion.
Committee member Hobart Young added, “Traffic was backed up on Route 50 all the way to Tuckahoe Road last weekend.”
In another operational matter that has proved an inconvenience for residents, that of brush and compost pick-up, Township Engineer Paul Dietrich reported that Public Works crews would begin pickup this month. “I hope we can be more proactive in informing residents the schedule for these pick-up runs through posting on our website,” Dietrich added.
Committeeman John Coggins interjected that he would also recommend getting the word out on the local government cable information channel, Channel 97.
As is evident in the township, many residents have large piles of heavy branches and other leaf debris that they have piled up on their front lawns because of the number of intense storms the county has experienced over the summer.
Dietrich added that the township asks residents to pile large limbs and other vegetation into “manageable” piles so that Public Works crews can more easily collect them into the truck or chipper.
Committee approved the award of a $336,692 contract to reconstruct the boat ramp on Bayview Drive in Strathmere despite controversy from the second low bidder that had arisen a few weeks ago.
Solicitor Daniel Young said committee could move forward to award the contract to Atlantic Marine Construction since R.A. Walters had withdrawn its formal protest.
The township expects to begin construction on the ramp and have it finished by summer 2017. Officials earlier reported that the municipality had permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection in its possession.
“I reviewed the specifications with the bidder, and there were no material or ‘fatal’ deficiencies with the bid,” explained Young. “Thus, under state law, we are required to accept the lowest responsible bid.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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