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Test pits for the work were marked Friday to determine the precise locations of underground utilities, Mayor Lou Lamatina said in an open letter to the community.
“On Monday, August 29th, the digging for test pits will occur,” he wrote. “That day also marks the start of the 300 day period for the contract to be completed.”
The Kinderkamack Road Shared Service Improvement Project entails closing the New Jersey Transit railroad crossing for seven days, starting Sept. 23 after rush hour, according to the mayor.
Whether that’s the morning or evening rush hour is not yet clear, the mayor said. The crossing is scheduled to reopen Sept. 30.
After that, the Linwood Avenue railroad is scheduled to be upgraded, according to a letter from New Prince Concrete Construction Company sent Friday to every address on Kinderkamack Road from the Oradell border to the Westwood border.
Bus routes during full closure of the road will follow a posted detour, according to the New Prince letter.
“All efforts will be taken for the duration of the project to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction within the project limits,” the New Prince letter stated.
The exceptions are the closing of the railroad crossing and, at the end stages of the project, during final paving.
According to Lamatina, the scope of the work otherwise includes: the widening of roads, installation of new drainage, curbs, sidewalks, signage, new traffic signal systems, street lighting and paving within the project limits from Etna Avenue to Jefferson Avenue.
During construction, no parking will be permitted within the work zone wherever "No Parking" signs are posted.
Work hours for the project are 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Driveway access may be limited at times during construction.
The mayor urges all households with schoolchildren to make arrangements for carpooling, if possible, to minimize the number of vehicles traversing the area.
All dates for the work are tentative, he wrote in his open letter, since weather and other factors could cause delays and extensions.
“The road will be rocky and rough for the next 10 months or so, but it will be well worth the pain,” the mayor wrote, pointing out the project has been discussed since the 1950s.
Work is slated for completion by the end of the summer of 2017.
A field office will open soon in the construction area. Until then, any medical or safety issues can be directed to New Prince at (201) 488-8208.
For updates on the project, CLICK HERE.
Residents also can register with the Emerson Police Department for daily notifications and reach out to Lamatina at any time at mayor@emersonnj.org.
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