http://bayshorenewsblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/dot-addresses-flooding-in-union-beach.html

Thursday, February 7, 2008
DOT addresses flooding in Union Beach

By ALYSSA PASSEGGIO / The Courier, Feb. 7

Frequent motorists on Route 36 in the Bayshore are no strangers to flooding, but a portion of the highway will be receiving a facelift during the next two years for just that.

In order to prevent problematic flooding, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has focused its attention on the roadway spanning Flat Creek through both Hazlet and Union Beach. The bridge is located between Stone Road and Union Avenue on the border of the two municipalities.

According to T&M Associates Engineer Peter Drinkwater, the project will fill in a depressed portion of the road. "The roadway is not being lifted, [rather] it will be leveled out," Drinkwater explained. The center portion of the concave 1000-foot strip of highway will be raised five feet, he said.

NJDOT Spokesman Anthony Marsella noted that the change would occur in stages, with an anticipated completion date of January 2010.

Although some detours can be expected, Marsella said the same amount of lanes of traffic would be maintained, especially during the summer months, in anticipation of congestion.

Ahmad Qureshi, the NJDOT's project manager, said the approximately $15 million state-funded project has been about five years in the making.

Below the surface

In addition to the roadway elevation, the project will address flooding issues off the highway, Drinkwater said.

The NJDOT will remove three commercial properties along Route 36 south to make way for flood-storage areas, he said.

"One main reason for the flooding is because the buildings were constructed and got rid of wetlands, which [previously] held the water," Drinkwater explained. The grass fields should help retain the water during a storm, he said.

Currently, rainwater from Hazlet is funneled thorough a circular opening at the bottom of the bridge and flows into Union Beach, Drinkwater said. The new edits should allow only that controlled amount of water to flow into the borough by preventing overspill, he said.

The building demolition and ground resurfacing should take place before July 2008, he said.

Commuter impact

During the spring, nearby residents and commuters can expect to see some changes to the highway, including temporary traffic signals and widened roads, officials said.

All traffic will be moved to the northbound side of Route 36 while the opposite part of the highway is removed and redone, Drinkwater said. Once the southbound construction is complete, the traffic will be switched and work will commence on the northbound half, he added.

The anticipated completion of both the bridge and road construction is fall 2009, Drinkwater said. Detours of Stone Road and Seagate Avenue should last a couple of weeks during the road construction, he added.

Details, such as paving and reassembling traffic signals, should be wrapped up by the end of 2009, he said.

"This [project] should alleviate the flooding on the downstream side and the increased volume storage will hold water so it doesn't rush into Union Beach," Drinkwater concluded.

For more information on the project call Marsella at (609) 530-6116 or e-mail him at: Tony.Marsella@dot.state.nj.us.

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