VILLAS — Engineer Andrew McTague told Township Council on Jan. 21 that a few capital projects are close to completion pending warmer weather.
Pre-bid approval was recently issued for Rotary Park through the state Green Acres program. McTague said the final design is in progress and bidding is scheduled for February.
Phase one of the extension of bayside outfall pipes is largely complete, with one last punch list item left to finish next month.
The township began replacing the five of 15 bayside outfall pipes in the worst condition in March 2025. That replacement included an emergency outfall at the Delaware Bay pump station near Ohio Ave. Township manager Michael Laffey said at the time the pipes were blocked, and it was backfilling along the dune.
In October 2025, the township added a second contract to the outfall pipe extensions, including Ocean, St. John’s, Frances, and Woodland avenues in Villas. McTague said the second contract work is anticipated to be completed in the spring. The second phase, which will replace the pipes at Arbor, Shadeland, Wildwood, Broadway and Spruce avenues, is set to start in February.
The reconstruction of Ridgewood Avenue is nearly finished; McTague said paving will be done once the weather warms.
The Department of Environmental Protection issued a CAFRA permit Jan. 12 for renovations to the David Douglass Senior Memorial Park. The process has been ongoing since the freshwater wetlands transition area waiver was submitted in July 2025.
“Now we just need to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers section 408 permit done and then a draft agreement,” McTague said.
Another ongoing project is the new Public Works building.
“The apparent low bidder was Aliano Bros., in the amount of $3.5 million,” McTague said, adding they are working toward awarding that contract.
Construction of the municipal pool building opens to bidding on Jan. 23. The township was awarded $400,000 for the project, which includes replacing the building.
Several projects are in the closeout phase, including the reconstruction of Beach Avenue and the resurfacing of Cardinal Avenue. McTague said one area of Cardinal Avenue needs to be repaved, which will be completed once the weather warms up.
The Bayshore Road pickleball courts are also mostly complete, with only a few minor items remaining. McTague said it would be completed within the next two weeks, weather-permitting.
Another project in the works includes the Clem Mulligan Sports Complex storm sewer pump station, which was rebid last November.
“Submittals are continuing to roll in,” McTague said. "There’s been some long lead times for pump panels, so that construction is scheduled to start in April.”
Additionally, the design for the Lincoln Boulevard storm sewer project is commencing.
McTague said the survey of the work on Arctic Avenue is complete and the design is under way.
“Lastly, we have the resurfacing project of four streets in Diamond Beach,” McTague said. “We are surveying that and once that is complete, we will begin the design.”
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
