The Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project has begun!!  The project area will encompass Washington Avenue (Route 57) from Lincoln Avenue to School Street.

Streetscaping means that all curbs within the project area will be reconstructed with concrete curbs, sidewalk will be reconstructed, and a concrete paver strip will be installed. Trees, benches, trash receptacles, ash urns, street lights, and bicycle racks also will be installed, and a mid-block crosswalk will be constructed of concrete pavers.

Within the five-foot-wide concrete paver strip along the curb, new trees will be planted approximately every 30 feet.  The existing “cobra head” street lights will be removed and new, decorative “acorn” lights will be installed approximately every 60 feet. The benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and ash urns will be spaced at intervals in the strip.

The mid-block crosswalk will be installed near the existing Borough parking lot.  The curbs will bump out into the road approximately 8 feet on both sides to narrow the road at the crosswalk.  Embedded warning lights will alert drivers to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

The project will be constructed in two consecutive phases:

Phase One will consist of all drainage work, progressing block to block.  The Phase One contractor has already begun work, starting from South Lincoln Avenue to Broad Street. Work will then proceed from Broad Street to opposite School Street; then from North Lincoln Avenue to Belvidere Avenue, and finally from Belvidere Avenue to School Street.  The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of March 2007, at which time Phase Two work will begin.

Phase Two will consist of curb and sidewalk reconstruction, and the installation of the concrete paver strip. With the exception of tree plantings (which will most likely be done in the fall), all work will be finished as the Phase Two contractor progresses block to block.  While each block is under construction, parking will be prohibited from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, pedestrian access to sidewalks and businesses will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.  Phase Two is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2007.  

Please note:  As with any construction project disruptions to normal activities within the project area can be anticipated.  Such disruption may include: temporary access to buildings, restricted parking, traffic congestion, disruption to normal surface water drainage patterns, dust, dirt, and mud.  Every effort will be made to minimize these disruptions during the construction period.