SOMERS POINT — Improvements to a busy intersection are progressing as part of construction of an ALDI Food Market at Groveland Avenue and New Road.
Developer Provco Somers Point LLC is building the 21,659-square-foot market at the site of the former Walgreens pharmacy.
The Planning Board unanimously approved an application to build the market at the intersection, an area plagued by narrow streets, heavy traffic and recurrent flooding, in April 2023.
The pharmacy building was demolished and the building is under construction.
The development includes major upgrades to the intersection to improve drainage and traffic flow.
Provco attorney Stephen Nehmad said when they approached the city with a plan for the market, they were “told in no uncertain terms” that traffic and stormwater management would have to be addressed for any redevelopment plan to be considered.
City Council agreed July 21, 2022, to adopt the West Groveland Redevelopment Plan, an agreement that granted concessions to the developer in exchange for major site improvements, including dedicated left-turn lanes, new traffic signals and crosswalks and an extensive drainage system to alleviate flooding. Council members later voted to adopt that plan.
The intersection is being completely reconstructed and fully modernized with push-button signals and crosswalks. The dedicated left-turn lanes will allow traffic to flow rather than backing up.
There will be a crosswalk on both sides of Groveland Avenue and one on the north side of Route 9.
Another change planned is a two-way left-turn lane on Route 9. There currently is no left-turn lane into Galloway Auto & Tire and since the driveways are offset, the single lane would be beneficial to both businesses.
The Walgreens was about 10,000 square feet with a drive-thru and 49 parking spaces. The new building will be 19,209 square feet with an option for a 2,450-square-foot expansion and 98 parking spaces.
City engineer Greg Schneider said the intersection improvements started in mid-October. Contractors are installing curbs and sidewalks along Route 9 and working on widening the intersection next to Galloway Auto & Tire.
He said that work is taking place during daylight hours and utility work, in which it is necessary to tap into the water main and sanitary sewer, is taking place at night.
Schneider said the intersection work, including traffic lights, would be going on until February or March, and then the market would open.
“They are not permitted to open until everything is complete with the traffic signal working,” he said.
– STORY and PHOTO by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff