Brick Township will soon begin the first phase of improving numerous streets in the Normandy Beach neighborhood, many of which are still in poor condition following Superstorm Sandy and the Route 35 reconstruction project.
Work on curbing as well as sidewalk improvements and drainage issues will begin in September, plus a replacement of water mains on 7th Avenue by New Jersey American Water. Depending on how long it will take for the drainage work to be completed, concrete work may be pushed until the spring due to falling temperatures.
“We can’t do concrete work when we have a freeze,” said Elissa Commins, the township engineer.
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The township is preparing a large improvement project that will encompass several streets in Normandy Beach, which will include raising the elevation of some streets to quell the frequent flooding issues that plague the neighborhood. The township previously hired Maser Consulting, an engineering firm, to come up with a plan to reduce flooding and improve township-owned roads. The plan includes work which will be performed on streets and curbing.
“I think, after Sandy, everyone is on board that the roadway surfaces have to come up,” Commins said.
Not all streets will be elevated, said Commins, but major intersections such as Broad Street and 6th Avenue will likely be included in the project, which has yet to be put out to bid by the township.
Meanwhile, several residents have expressed concerns that their street ends are uneven following the Route 35 reconstruction project, leading to potholes and drop-offs when entering or exiting the highway. Mayor John Ducey said recently that the state’s contractor for the Route 35 project will fix those issues when performing a final paving of the highway beginning Sept. 13. It will take about two weeks to “clean up” all the intersections, Ducey said.
Normandy Beach is located in the township’s barrier island portion, just south of Brick’s public beaches. The neighborhood is split between Brick and Toms River.