As township officials anticipate beginning the Alexander Road S-Curve project in the late summer, the Township Council has approved an amendment to the existing contract with the engineers for the project.
The Council approved, 5-0, an additional $5,125 to the township’s contract with Remington & Vernick Engineers of Haddonfield, which submitted a proposal last month for additional professional engineering services. The total revised contract, originally approved in February, 2008, is worth $66,070.
The beginning of construction on the Alexander Road S-curve has been delayed for more than two years. It was originally scheduled to begin in spring, 2008.
The project at the time included widening the road to 38 feet, with one lane of travel and a five-foot bike path in each direction. Features of the new road included elevation of the roadway to create a banking effect, use of high friction pavement, and improved striping and signage.
The concept for the design of the road was endorsed by council in 2007. However, it was delayed because the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission felt the redesign of the S-curve with additional sidewalks and bikes lanes, which increased impervious coverage, put too much water into the canal, township officials reported.
West Windsor officials had to find a way to put the water into a detention basin so it would not run off impervious coverage and submit the new design to the DRCC.
The estimated cost of the project is about $500,000, with $190,000 in funding coming from a state Department of Transportation grant.
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said the township anticipates both the S-curve project and the Route 571 bridge intersection improvements this year. The bridge intersection improvements are anticipated to begin soon. “At the same time, with the S-curve, we hope to get started in the later part of the summer,” said Hsueh. “We have some concerns with some of the businesses in that area that need to prepare in order for us to get started in the later part of the summer.
And, “we cannot close two roads at the same time going in the same direction between Princeton and West Windsor,” he added.
South Post Road Pump Station Contract. In other business during the June 1 meeting, the Township Council also approved a $13,500 contract with Van Cleef Engineering Associates of Hamilton for engineering services related to the South Post Road Pump Station Renovations Program.
Business Administrator Robert Hary said the contract is for minor work to be done at the pump station’s old, wooden building.
The council also approved the purchase of a 2011 Utility Crane Truck for Public Works from Ditschman/Flemington Ford Fleet Sales in Flemington. for $77,950.
