MARGATE A major capital improvement in the Marina District is being delayed a few weeks, mostly due to the delay in receiving materials as a result of the pandemic.
According to city engineer Ed Dennis Jr. of Remington & Vernick, the city is waiting for delivery of lumber for the decking of the Amherst Avenue promenade, which will arrive in two batches. Dennis said the first shipment will be received next week and a second shipment not until after Memorial Day weekend.
The company will staff-up to complete the decking with a second crew following behind to do the railings and lighting, he said. The project should be completed by the end of June.
That's a full month later than when the city hoped the project would be completed.
Delays are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the supply chain. The cost of materials has greatly increased as well.
The board approved a 60-day extension for Fred M. Schiavone of Malaga to complete the project. The cost of building the promenade was increased by $24,000 for the installation of new check valves, bringing the entire cost to $2,099,297.
The project includes turning Amherst Avenue into a one-way street with traffic flowing southbound toward Longport. The board introduced an ordinance Thursday to accommodate the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Amherst and Coolidge avenues.
In other business, the board approved a contract not to exceed $60,000 for R&V for engineering design, bidding and construction administration for interior renovations to the Margate Municipal Building on Winchester Avenue. Renovations are planned for the front entrance foyer, hallway corridor, and reconfiguration of several offices, including the Finance, Tax Collector and Utility Department offices. Subcontractor Settembrino Architects will provide design services.
The engineering firm was also awarded a second contract totaling $44,000 for the first phase of permitting to dredge Beach Thorofare, Bayshore Lagoon, and Sunset and Orient canals. The proposed disposal area is Dredge Hole #86 near Albany Avenue in Atlantic City. However, the city is also requesting permits to use Shelter Island as an alternative disposal site.
Approvals are needed from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the entire length of the city in phases over several years.
According to R&V's proposal, the second phase of permitting will cost an estimated $115,000.
Work to improve the intersection of Washington and Ventnor avenues is being coordinated with work being performed by Atlantic County along Ventnor Avenue, and is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day, he said.
Dennis also reported that paving of Atlantic Avenue will start on Monday, May 10 and is expected to take three days to complete. Striping the roadway to implement a road diet will follow, with an anticipated completion date of June 5.
The road diet will turn Atlantic Avenue's current configuration two lanes in each direction into one lane in each direction, with a center turn lane and widened bicycle lanes. The new configuration will improve safety for all roadway users, including motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, officials say.
Copyright Mediawize, LLC 2021
