SOMERS POINT — Winter’s potholes will soon be a jiggly old memory as spring roadwork begins around the city.
Engineer Greg Schneider updated City Council about ongoing and future projects March 28. He said phase 1 of Ocean Avenue paving has been completed and was awaiting inspection.
Plans are complete for Ocean Avenue phase 2 and New Jersey Avenue, both state aid projects, and are ready to be sent to the state Department of Transportation for review and approval, he said.
Schneider said, however, that by the time the DOT receives bids it would be close to summer, suggesting putting the project off until fall.
“I don’t think summer is a good time,” City Council President Janice Johnston said.
Schneider suggested bidding the project with a caveat that it be completed after summer, so that everything would be ready to go.
The engineer also noted that paving has started on Colwick Drive, Devon Road, Exton Road and Bala Drive. One layer had been applied but due to incessant rain, completion was put on hold.
“We don’t want to rush the paving,” Schneider said, noting the roads were designed to last 50 years and “will be done right.”
Schneider also reported on plans for construction of a pump station on Gulph Mill Road. He said the goal is to have the engineering work done by summer so the city could apply for funding this fall.
A preliminary estimate was $600,000 for the pump station with a total cost of about $1 million, including roadwork and paving.
City Council authorized Mayor Dennis Tapp to request the DOT conduct a traffic study for MacArthur Boulevard/Route 52.
“I have absolutely no problem sending this letter out. We had two fatalities on Route 52 and we need to take a look at that to see what we can do to prevent that in the future,” Tapp said, referring to James Cipolina, 72, of Manassas, Va., who was hit and killed March 2 while crossing, and another deadly accident in 2023.
Cipolina and his wife, who was not identified, were crossing the road at about 6:50 p.m. in front of the Econo Lodge when a 75-year-old Somers Point man struck him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In other business, Tapp said the city has started an investigation into options for solar energy production, noting there are no solar panels on any buildings “and we need to take a look at that.”
The retired electrician said he has connections and would be able to get all of the necessary information.
Johnston said the city is investigating getting rid of mercantile licenses and simply requiring a business registration, which would be easier for the Clerk’s Office to handle. The next challenge, she said, is to go over a fee schedule, which she characterized as “very convoluted,” noting it has not been updated since 1990.
Tapp noted that Bayfest is scheduled for April 27 on Bay Avenue and the Bayfest Committee, led by Steve Hornig, is still looking for volunteers to help set up one of the city’s marquee events.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
