Residents of a two-block area along Amherst Avenue have been dealing with no parking and damage to their homes as a result of a road reconstruction project.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Efforts to reconstruct a portion of Amherst Avenue is back on track following a two-month delay caused by a partial collapse of the earth beneath the roadway that caused damage to several neighboring homes.
Resident Dennis Gorniowsky, who lives in the area, told members of the Board of Commissioners Thursday, May 6 that if there is any more damage to his home, he will hold the city liable.
That project has been a mess ever since it started, he said. What's going to be done if the road is not paved until September?
The project was halted for a time while the city, contractor, engineer and their insurance companies and attorneys worked out liability issues. Work resumed on April 28 after the project was modified to prevent additional damage to homes.
Several property owners claimed the work caused damage to their homes, including foundation cracks, but the exact cause is still under review, city engineer Ed Dennis Jr. said.
According to Commissioner John Amodeo, that area of Margate is one of the lowest points in the city.
The area was selected for reconstruction based on a priority list of roads that are nearing the end of their lifespan. It is customary for the city to replace underground utilities whenever it does road projects.
The areas are selected based on the condition of the roadway and need to upgrade infrastructure, Amodeo said. The asphalt had degraded, and the city received complaints, so it was time for an upgrade. The pipes in the ground are the original pipes from more than 50 years ago.
The project included replacing all the infrastructure below the ground, such as water and sewer mains and storm drains. Lateral connections to the homes were installed at no cost to homeowners, Amodeo said.
It's part of the city's ongoing road program, he said.
In a second round of bidding for the project, Mathis Construction Co., Inc. of Little Egg Harbor Township was awarded a $858,617 contract on Sept. 3, 2020 to perform the work. The city had received six bids in July, but they were rejected because they came in above the engineer's estimate of cost.
Mathis was the low-bidder in the second round of bids received on Aug. 27, 2020. Other bidders included South State of Bridgeton at $898,542 and Mount Construction of Berlin at $997,670.
The section between Clarendon and Douglass avenues is in Phase 1 of the Amherst Avenue reconstruction project, which was totally funded by taxpayers. The city recently learned the NJ Department of Transportation awarded the city $285,000 for Phase 2, which is currently in the design phase.
Residents have been dealing with their street being torn up since last November.
I understand their frustration, Dennis said. It's very complicated, not only for the residents but for engineering and logistics as well.
The contractor used a well point system to remove groundwater from the excavated area to accommodate workers replacing the pipes, which caused the ground around the area to settle, Amodeo said.
The compression caused the foundation of one home to drop leaving a gap between the house and the foundation. The house has been stabilized but it can't be repaired until the roadwork is completed, Amodeo said.
The contractor had to shut down the operation until the insurance issues were worked out, he said.
Dennis said the project has been modified to prevent further damage to homes.
The plan was changed to minimize the need for deeper excavation and dewatering, Dennis said Monday afternoon. We also raised the level of the pipes so they are not as deep.
The modification eliminated the need to use the well point system and enabled the contractor to use smaller construction vehicles. The contractor also conducted a survey of the existing condition of surrounding homes before continuing with the project. Any vibrations caused by construction machinery is being closely monitored, Dennis said.
Although the homeowner thought the contractor might be taking shortcuts to get the job done before Memorial Day, Dennis said the project is not being rushed.
The drainage improvements being made will help alleviate some of the nuisance flooding in the area.
Flooding in that area is typical for a barrier island. The upgrades to the drainage system will improve things, but it won't totally eliminate it due to the nature of the island, he said.
Dennis said the installation of underground utilities is nearly completed.
Next up is installation of the curbs, gutters, ADA compliant corner ramps, and sidewalk and driveway aprons. The city anticipates base course paving on the two-block area will be completed in June. The final 2-inch layer of asphalt will be laid in September, after the roadway has a few months to settle, Dennis said.
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