Lakewood Township has been hard at work making Route 88 more pedestrian-friendly with filling in missing sidewalks and installing new pedestrian curb ramps.
Improvements on the south side of Route 88 are being done at the Pearl Street intersection, near Linden Avenue, from North Oakland Street to Natures Way, and from Jessica Court to New Hampshire Avenue.
Improvements on the north side of Route 88 are being done at the Pearl Street intersection, near Linden Avenue, from North Oakland Street to Waterview Drive, and from Dr. Szold Way to New Hampshire Avenue.
Work on this project began in the beginning of June.
Both sidewalk jobs are now substantially complete pending final (minor) paving and restoration work.
Lakewood’s Township Committee, on March 18, awarded 2 contracts totalling $897,456.15 for these pedestrian safety improvements.
In March 2019, the township was allocated a NJDOT Municipal Aid grant of $501,375 towards this project.
In September 2020 the township placed a $20 million bond for various capital improvements, including these improvements to Route 88.
The committee awarded a $663,913.13 contract to Earle Asphalt Company of Farmingdale, New Jersey for improvements to the south side. Of this amount, $401,100.00 will be funded by the Municipal Aid grant and $262,813.13 will be funded from the bond funds.
The committee awarded a $233,543.02 contract to Seacoast Construction, Inc. of East Brunswick, New Jersey for improvements to the north side. This contract will be funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds the township received in 2019 and 2020. CDBG funds are federal grants that municipalities across the country receive annually from U.S. Housing and Urban Development for a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services.