VILLAS — Engineer Marc DeBlasio updated Lower Township Council on capital projects during a meeting June 16, noting there were many positive updates to share.
Council approved a New Jersey Department of Transportation municipal aid program for the reconstruction of Beach and Delaware avenues. DeBlasio said the project will now move into the construction phase.
“We’ll have a pre-construction meeting and contracts,” DeBlasio said. “You should see construction activity in the next two to four weeks.”
DeBlasio said bidding will open June 25 for construction of the six new pickleball courts on the property between the construction office and senior center.
“On that same day we will also be publicly bidding the resurfacing of Cardinal Avenue,” he said. “You’ll see construction activity on that in August.”
There are several capital projects in the design phase, preparing for bid.
DeBlasio said they are finalizing revisions to the plan for reconstruction of Ridgewood Avenue.
Other projects in the works include the extensions of the bayside outfall pipes, the Clem Mulligan stormwater sewer pump station, the new municipal pool building and the new public works building.
While not a Lower Township project, DeBlasio informed Township Council that the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority was opening bids for its North Cape May water main and water service replacement project.
“That is a $7 million water main and lead service line replacement project,” he said. “If all goes well, you’ll see construction activity starting in August and that will probably go for about a year.”
Another significant repaving project residents can expect to see sooner rather than later is Townbank Road.
Councilman Joseph Wareham reported April 21 that Townbank Road resurfacing from Bayshore Road to Beach Drive was scheduled for September 2030.
“We just got updated that. That was scheduled for 2030 and has been delayed for so long but realized it was a priority,” Wareham said. “They’re going to do it within the next year, and that’s really good news because that had been put to the wayside by a bit.”
Nathaniel Foster House
Councilman Tom Conrad provided an update on the Judge Nathaniel Foster House. The township leases the building from Cape May County and maintains it.
“We’re receiving a $150,000 grant, tied in with some other grants, and we are going to start working on it to get it back and hopefully get the public in there soon,” Conrad said. “July 21 is the first pre-qualification hearing, and we’ll see if we get approval; it takes about four weeks.”
Conrad added that any work would go out to bid, and it is possible that a contract for construction could be awarded prior to Thanksgiving.
“It’s a hopeful thing, he said. “I know the Historic Preservation Commission will be thrilled. There’s some beautiful work in there, and we should take pride in it.”
Other news
Sunset Beach Sportsmen’s Club President Emmaleigh Kaithern thanked the township for its support on the continued fight to stay on their property.
“Old habits die hard, and we didn’t want to take for granted the fact there weren’t any objections submitted this year,” Kaithern said. “We appreciate your continued support, and we are continuing to fight for our right to stay on our property, which we’ve occupied for almost 75 years.”
Mayor Frank Sippel thanked Kaithern for attending and noted that, since there was no objection from the state, there would be no hearing during the meeting.
During public comment, Villas resident Gary Newton spoke about concerns he had regarding Clem Mulligan Park. He said children and adults are riding electric bikes and small dirt bikes in the park.
“There are a lot of children playing in the park since you cleaned up the property a few years ago,” Newton said. “Now these kids and adults are [biking] in and out of people. I’m feeling that it’s a hazard to these children as well as myself walking in the park.”
Newton added he was concerned from a safety standpoint since many of the bike riders are not wearing helmets. He said the police had been visiting the park but the riders disappeared before they arrived.
Sippel said he would ask Township Manager Michael Laffey to reach out to the police department to mitigate the issue. Sippel added that the solicitor could investigate the laws governing electric bikes in playground areas. Conrad added that he had been looking into the situation with Laffey.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
