Asbury Park's FABULOUS Makeover!
Torn up streets, removed trees, diverted traffic...what the heck?
If you've been remotely alive and anywhere near downtown Asbury Park in the last few months, you noticed a little something going on. Construction workers, diverted traffic, not a parking spot to be had, torn up streets, and a whole lot of noise!
Well, it's a 14.9 million dollar investment and construction project designed to make Asbury Park not only MORE fabulous, but very pretty!
Brian Grant, City Engineer and essentially 'project administrator' of this huge undertaking, was very helpful in explaining what exactly is going on and it sounds like nothing short of what I like to call...a "Jersey Shore Facelift".
The construction work is being done in the Central Business District (CBD) Redevelopment area, and the Springwood Ave. Redevelopment area.
The construction work is being done in the Central Business District (CBD) Redevelopment area, and the Springwood Ave. Redevelopment area.
The Central Business District is getting new asphalt roadways, curbs, sidewalks, storm drains and pipes, new "water quality chambers" (which will reduce the volume of sediment going in to the lake) and of course - trees.
The Springwood Ave redevelopment zone will received the same plus new sanitary sewers, water mains and gas mains.
In regards to those controversial trees.... they were removed after being evaluated by the City's own Shade Tree Commission and found to have various deficiencies. Mostly from disease, and broken limbs from snow and heavy wind. But mostly they had to be removed to make way fot the new curbs, water/sewer mains, and drains. The City will replant twice as many trees (207) in the CBD as previously existed, and approximately 121 trees along the Springwood Ave corridor where none previously existed.
Estimated time of construction is a little less than a year for the CBD, and 18 months for Springwood Ave. Depending on weather this winter, they may have to stop and 'remobilize' for the Spring.
The project is being funded by the New Jersy Environmental Infrastructre Trust (NJEIT) program, and Asbury Park tax payers are assisting by paying for a low interest loan from their quarterly sewer fees over a 20 year period.
For information on street closings or construction updates you can visit the City's website at http://www.cityofasburypark.com/.
Once completed, the roads will last a good 20 years, the sewers 50 - 100 years and the street trees 20 - 50 years. With the current infrastructure being 80-100 years old - it is absolutely critical that this work be done - and be done right. And by all means, it appears as though it is.
So when you're driving around and you get pissed because you can't find a parking spot - chill! Think about what's REALLY going on, and be grateful. The City of Asbury Park is REALLY coming thru for you!
5 comments:
While nobody wanted to see the trees removed, the fact of the matter is that trees don't live forever. As long as they are committed to replanting, I'm all for it.
As far as the blog is concerned, you are doing a great job. However, I'm hoping you update it a bit more often.
Mark,
Thank you for this information. You are correct. For a small inconvenience now, we will have a beautiful Asbury Park for years.
Yours, Charlie Maffei
You know Mark, at first when I saw all the trees removed on Cookman and Mattison Avenues, I was a bit taken back. I thought the streets looked naked. I think it was the drastic change that was so shocking...Although, now I have a new outlook. I think the downtown has a feeling of newness. It's beginning to look fresh and clean. When the road and cement work is completed, and the new trees have all been planted, it will truly look like a city reborn.
All in the name of progress.
Good article!!!
It`s really nice article. Thank u a lot
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