Ocean Grove parking squeezed by construction
NEPTUNE - Construction on a new bulkhead on the Ocean Grove side of Fletcher Lake has closed some parking reserved for those with beach badges.
“Doing anything during the summer is a challenge, but it is important for us to move forward with this project in a timely manner,” Mayor Keith Cafferty told the Press.
The construction is part of the Fletcher Lake Bulkhead replacement project. The funding for the project was authorized and the contract awarded to Avakian Engineering at the June 27 meeting of the Township Committee.
One ordinance appropriated $900,000 and authorized $855,000 in money borrowed through bonds to finance the cost. Another resolution authorized the services agreement with Leon S. Avakian Inc. for the Fletcher Lake bulkhead improvements for $198,500.
Township Business Administrator Gina LaPlaca said the township had to wait several months for its DEP permits to be approved.
“The schedule of work, as with any project, is determined by our engineers, the availability of funding, and the length/nature of the permitting and approvals process. We understand that there is a temporary inconvenience resulting from the construction activity, but the bulkhead replacement is a vitally important project for the community and we are glad that it is finally proceeding according to plan,” LaPlaca said.
Michael Badger, president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, said he is “very grateful to the
“Doing anything during the summer is a challenge, but it is important for us to move forward with this project in a timely manner.”
Mayor Keith Cafferty
Township for spending for over a million dollars to enhance public safety.”
“The retaining wall had falling into the lake and the township took this on. It is going to be a good improvement for the community,” Badger said.
Parking has been an ongoing cause of debate in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune. The Township Parking Subcommittee presented the pilot proposal for a residential parking program at a special meeting January, only for the plan to fail during a workshop meeting of the Township Committee in February, which meant the committee never introduced a formal ordinance to implement the plan. The Township Committee voted 4-0 to adopt an ordinance in March that added parking time limits to a portion of Main Avenue between May 15 and Sept. 15.