$27M in Construction Projects to Sweep Newark Streets

Officials Monday announced $27 million-worth of construction projects throughout Newark that include a major overhaul of several of the city's major roadways.

Some improvements, like streetscaping, road resurfacing, traffic calming and traffic signal installations, have , which underwent a Traffic Calming Project late last year.

So far, the Department of Engineering has completed 15 speed humps, four corner bump-outs and one mid-block crosswalk. Future work will involved the creation of 50 speed humps, rumble strips at 97 sites and new pavement markings throughout the ward.

Funding for the projects comes from the Department of Engineering Capital Budget, Urban Enterprise Zone Funds and the New Jersey Department of Transportation grants. Exact date and times for construction will be announced closer to starting dates.

"The Department of Engineering is playing its role in helping to build a stronger, safer, and prouder City with these roadway improvement projects," said Engineering Director Mehdi Mohammadish in a statement. "We ask motorists and pedestrians to bear with us during construction periods and allow for extra time when using these streets."

The city recently received the approval to expand the Project Red Light program, the state's largest automated photo enforcement system already in place in Newark, to three more intersections: Washington Street and Central Avenue, Bergen Street and Avon Avenue and Bergen Street and West Runyon Street.

Below is a list of construction projects currently underway:

•  West Ward Traffic Calming Project ($589,875): The largest traffic calming project in Newark’s history consists of 65 speed humps throughout the West Ward, along with corner bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, rumble strips, lane diets, and various signs. This project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by September 2012.
• Ferry Street Streetscape Project ($1.2 million): (Polk Street to Merchant Street, and Market Street to McWhorter Street): This project will complete the transformation of the Ferry Street shopping corridor, in the Ironbound Business Improvement District, through a range of physical improvements. The streetscape will re-construct sidewalks, utilities and drainage, create corner bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, and install new traffic signals, street lighting, trees, planters, new pavement, imprinted decorative brick crosswalks, pavement markings and signs. This project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by September 2012.
• Broad Street Streetscape Project ($1.8 million): (Edison Place to Franklin Street) This will include new sidewalks, utilities and drainage, create a center planted median with pedestrian refuge for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, and install new traffic signals, street lighting, trees, planters, new pavement, imprinted decorative brick crosswalks, pavement markings and signs. This project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by October 2012.
• Irvine Turner Boulevard, Jones Street, and Norfolk Street Traffic Calming Project ($5 million): (Clinton Avenue to West Market Street) This consists of various roadway improvements, including new curb and sidewalks, new traffic signals, street re-surfacing, raised intersections, imprinted decorative brick crosswalks, new pavement markings, new regulatory and warning signs, trees, installation of bike lanes, and construction of a landscaping median within the corridor. This project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by November 2012.

The following projects will begin later this spring and summer:

• Clinton Avenue and South Orange Avenue Streetscape Projects ($4.1 million): Clinton Avenue from Hunterdon Street to Osborne Terrace, South Orange Avenue from Stuyvesant Avenue to the South Orange city line. These projects consist of various roadway improvements, including new curbs and sidewalks, new traffic signals, street re-surfacing, imprinted decorative brick crosswalks, new pavement markings, new regulatory and warning signs, trees, corner bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, benches, sidewalk planters, and garbage cans.
• Mt. Prospect Avenue and Lower Broadway Streetscape Projects ($4.7 million): Mt. Prospect Avenue from Heller Parkway to the Belleville City Line, Broadway from Bloomfield Avenue to 7th Avenue. These projects consist of various roadway improvements, including new curbs and sidewalks, new traffic signals, street re-surfacing, imprinted decorative brick crosswalks, new pavement markings, new regulatory and warning signs, trees, corner bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, benches, sidewalk planters, and garbage cans.
• Central Ward Traffic Calming Project ($273,553): This will consist of 15 speed humps throughout the Central Ward, along with corner bump-outs for shorter pedestrian crossings at crosswalks, rumble strips, lane diets, and various signs.
• Wilson Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Improvements ($2 million): Running between Hyatt Street and Doremus Avenue, this project will consist of a complete roadway reconstruction with a new drainage system between Hyatt Street and Doremus Avenue. The roadway will be improved using pavement designed for heavy truck traffic.
• Delancy Street Reconstruction Improvements ($2 million): Running between Doremus Avenue and Newark Bay, this entails the re-construction of 3,500 feet of roadway with a new drainage system. The roadway will be improved using pavement designed for heavy truck traffic.
• Street re-surfacing for 18 streets ($4.5 million): The following streets will receive new surfaces: James Street, Warren Street, Ferry Street, Malvern Street, Montclair Avenue, Delavan Avenue, South 19th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Mountainview Avenue, Gould Place, University Avenue, Thomas Street, Summer Avenue, Bergen Street, Carolina Avenue, William Street, Peshine Avenue, and Columbia Avenue.
• Wilson Avenue Traffic Signal Improvement ($500,000): This project will replace two existing traffic signals at Wilson Avenue and Houston Street, and at Wilson Avenue, Lafayette and Hensler Streets. A new traffic signal will be installed at Wilson Avenue and Avenue L. This project will include video detection, pedestrian countdown signals, handicap ramps, warning and regulatory signs, street re-surfacing, and new pavement markings.
• Urban Traffic Control System Traffic Signal Project ($1.6 million): This project will install fiber optic cables throughout the downtown to 120 traffic signal intersections, upgrade 60 traffic signals with new controllers and create the city's new Traffic Control Center at the Division of Traffic and Signals. The Traffic Control Center will allow city engineers to monitor in real time the operation of these 120 interconnected traffic signals.
• Re-lamping all bridge lights on the Jackson Street Bridge and Bridge Street Bridge ($87,810).

– Staff reports