Susan Goetz
Joined: Wed, Jul 6 2011, 10:12 am EDT Posts: 61
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Posted: Wed, Mar 12 2014, 7:07 pm EDT Post subject: Downtown Beautification Grant - |
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Beginning this Friday - March 14, construction work will begin on the Downtown Beautification Sidewalk Improvement project.
As discussed previously on this site, Cranbury is the recipient of two Downtown Beautification sidewalk grants from the NJDOT. For nearly two years, a committee of residents has worked tirelessly to develop a plan which includes new brick sidewalks, additional trees, and new streetscape lighting for a portion of our Downtown area. The project area runs from Schoolhouse Lane, along the west side of Main Street all the way to the Post office. Major intersection improvements are being added at Schoolhouse Lane and at Park Place to make our streets ADA compliant and pedestrian friendly.
As I discussed previously on this site, several public meetings have been held to solicit opinions, beginning with a well attended concept planning meeting held early in the process. Drawings of the planned improvements have been presented on Cranbury Day, at Cranbury Business Association meetings and Senior meetings as well as at several Township Committee meetings and posted at Town Hall.
Beginning Friday, March 14, the approved contractor will begin the project by saw cutting a portion of Main Street at the two Main Street intersections involved to accommodate the intersection improvements. As much work as possible will be performed during the school's Spring Break to reduce impact at the Schoolhouse Lane entrance.
The entire project schedule is a 60 day schedule and will, unfortunately, result in a certain amount of disruption to residents, pedestrians, customers and school children as the sidewalks are removed and replaced. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided although every effort is being made to expedite the project and manage the impact.
In order to accommodate contractor’s equipment, parking on the west side of Main Street will need to be suspended at marked locations Monday through Friday from Schoolhouse Lane to the Post Office. Access to the stores and restaurants will be impacted but as the improvements do not extend all the way to the building edge, access will be available throughout the project. People are urged to be careful and observe signs and barriers.
We understand that there will be many questions during this project. Please contact either Denise Maribella, our Township Administrator at 609-826-9000, extension 227 or myself at 609-664-3172. I do work during the day so I may need to call you back in the evening so please leave a time when you can be reached.
We ask for your patience and want you to know that this Beautification Committee made up of your neighbors and friends has done an amazing job of bringing to this area of our Business Community a beautiful improvement which maintains the nature of our Village while enhancing the ambiance of the area.
(and I am disappointed that the negative comments beat me to this site but let me say, the road will not be made any more narrow -The network intersections will have bump outs that will allow for ADA compliant intersections but these bump outs do not extend any further out than the parked cars on both sides of the street. The Police, the School, the Fire Department and representatives of the Farming community, who have what are probably the widest vehicles to travel on Main Street have all been involved in the planning process. Whomever it is that suggested we were narrowing the Street - please contact me to discuss and I will go through the plans with you. ) |
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