ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
NOVEMBER 2023

​Charles Carbone, P.E., Supervising Engineering Aide

 

BRADRICK LANE STREAM CLEANING

Follow-up conversations and meetings were held with the consulting Township Engineer regarding the previously provided preliminary report for the stormwater drainage concerns along the Bradrick Lane stream and drainage easement.  Potential alternative approaches were discussed with varying levels of office and field research required.

bus shelter & BUS STOP

Two formal requests to consider a new bus stop and provide a new bus shelter at two different NJ Transit locations were submitted.  NJ Transit required additional information regarding the potential projects.  Passaic County was contacted, as requested by NJ Transit, for input regarding the potential items within a county right-of-way.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FY2023

A Passaic County Department of Planning and Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY2023 application was submitted to Passaic County in March.  A sub-recipient agreement indicating the award of a $80,000 grant was received by the Township for the proposed project.  The proposed project is for barrier-free access and A.D.A. retrofit improvements to the Bubbling Springs Park Restroom Facility.  A resolution accepting the grant was approved by the Governing Body at the November meeting.

FARVIEW COURT

Technical assistance was provided to the Department of Public Works regarding a drainage concern.  Construction of a stormwater inlets and stormwater drainage pipe was inspected, including line and grade, during the in-house construction to alleviate drainage and winter icing concerns.

LOT DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW

Two (2) initial, single-family, residential lot development plans were reviewed for compliance with Section 110-4 of the Township Code and any applicable Board resolutions.  One (1) as-built / final plans were reviewed, inspected and processed as needed.  All lot development plan review results are entered into the “Spatial Data Logic” system.  The results are also posted for public consumption within the Engineering Division section of the Township’s website (www.westmilford.org) under the Site Plan Tracker.

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Road Rating process for the 2024 Pavement Management Program has been completed. Early field inspections have been possible due to mild weather.  The evaluation of the inspections results in the Road Rating List.  The list is utilized to determine annual road resurfacing priorities.  Roads not resurfaced are re-rated every 3 years.

2023-2024 SNOW PLOWING SERVICES

Snow plow route design and documentation creation began for impending winter season.  The Governing Body approved, by resolution, contracts for 2023-2024 Snow Plowing Services to six contractors totaling 50 trucks.  The Township contracts for private snow plowing services (trucks and drivers) annually to supplement in-house manpower and equipment.  Maps, tables, charts and various other supplemental documents are created to assist the Department of Public Works for winter maintenance.  The Department of Public Works is responsible for snow and ice removal on all 194 miles of Township, non-Township and private roads within West Milford.

STORMWATER COMPLIANCE

As part of the enhanced New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stormwater regulations, multiple meetings, conversations and implementation strategies were discussed in order to satisfy the requirements for the end of the 2023 year.  Some of the work is being partially funded by a New Jersey Highlands Council grant and a NJDEP stormwater mapping grant.  Reports, information and data are sought from various municipal offices to determine what action and maintenance has been performed by the municipality.  West Milford is considered a Tier ‘A’ stormwater designated region and must comply with more stringent State-mandates as a result of the designation.

TOWNSHIP ANNEX PROJECT / RIDGE ROAD BUILDING

Technical assistance was provided to the Contractor regarding the renovation project as needed.  The Contractor has been coordinating work efforts with other municipal staff throughout the project.  Various ongoing and outstanding items were discussed with the Contractor and other municipal staff in order to address potential revisions and changes as a result of existing conditions.  A request was made to the Contractor for potential items to be considered as a change order in the future.  A meeting was scheduled with municipal staff and the design architect to discuss the ongoing concerns and issues with the project.  Currently, the project is awaiting a revised floor plan in order to continue with the construction activities.  The renovation project intends to convert the former Library building to municipal office space.

VILLAGE ON RIDGE – PHASE ONE

As part of a request for release of performance bond, a letter from the consulting Township Engineer was drafted, approved and provided to the developer regarding outstanding and required restoration work prior to Township’s consideration of acceptance and ownership.  The developer was advised of additional inquiries regarding the work noted in the inspection.

WESLEY DRIVE

Technical assistance was provided to the Department of Public Works regarding a drainage concern and failing stormwater structure.  A custom concrete structure was designed to replace the failing structure and reduce continuous DPW maintenance during poor weather events.   Construction of the custom inlet was inspected, including line and grade, during the in-house construction.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Technical assistance, regarding lot development plans, storm drainage issues, active construction projects, flood zones, right-of-way issues, etc. were provided to concerned residents on 53 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 8 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 48 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 14 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 7 occasion.
  • Assistance was provided to utility companies on 1 occasion.
  • 5 Right of Way Entry Permit Applications were received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 5 OPRA requests were responded to.
  • Follow-up to a line striping request was made to the State for the Echo Lake Road and Route 23 intersection
  • One Administrator meetings were attended.
  • Rain inspections were performed during heavy rain events at various locations to record and identify potential improvements, if any.
  • The County Agricultural Development Board was contacted regarding two ongoing matters.
  • Passaic County was contacted regarding potential future bridge / culvert replacement projects and estimated schedules.
  • Quotes were sought to update the antiquated ESRI GIS software for future conversion.
  • Quotes were sought for Engineering Division staff to review asphalt / road paving training courses.
  • Water samples were requested to be taken at multiple areas of drainage concern to evaluate for potential drainage improvements.
  • 1 Joint Environmental Remediation Committee meeting was attended.
  • A Webinar “Enhanced Stormwater Management Ordinances” was attended.
  • 1 Outdoor Film permit was reviewed.
  • Teams Pre-construction meeting for the New Jersey Department of Transportation Route 23 North Bound bridge over the Pequannock River in the area of Canistear Road to Reservoir Road was attended.
  • 2 Board of Adjustment applications were reviewed.
  • 1 Planning Board application was reviewed.
  • 1 Americans with Disabilities Act meeting was attended at the High School.
  • 2 weekly reports for Administration were prepared.
  • 1 Teams meeting to discuss stormwater regulations was attended.
  • A memo was prepared for Administration regarding the vacating of various roads in the Mountain Springs Development.

 

CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

GERMANTOWN ROAD – SECTION 1

The resurfacing of Germantown Road, between Macopin Road and 0.8-miles south, was completed by October 27th with minor punchlist items completed throughout November. Project close out items were prepared in anticipation of informing the New Jersey Department of Transportation of the project status.  Material sampling (core tests) were required, as is done for all NJDOT funded projects, and completed in November.  This resurfacing project is partially funded by a $332,000 State Aid roadway grant.

ROAD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – HANOVER, ALPINE, ET AL

The Hanover, Alpine, Princeton, Lyons and Beverly Road Improvement Project was provided to the consultant Township Engineer to review and complete final aspects of the project in an effort to expedite the timeliness of the project in anticipation of other in-house projects prioritizing staff time.  Follow-up conversations since the documents were provided in September was made in an attempt to expedite the process.  Multiple meetings and conversations were held in order to identify the concerns of the project to the consultant design engineer.  The project was discussed with the Administrator to identify how to move forward with the project.  Due to recent New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stormwater regulation enhancements, the stormwater drainage for the project is being evaluated to determine the potential extents of improvement.  The proposed project intends to improve, through special assessment charged to the potentially benefiting property owners, Hanover Road, Alpine Court, Princeton Road (portion), Lyons Road (portion), and Beverly Court.  These dirt/gravel roads were accepted by ordinance in the summer of 2019.  A special assessment ordinance was approved by the Governing Body in April 2022 at a Town Council meeting to award the funding for this project.  Field work was completed through the winter of 2022-2023 and design began as time permitted in 2023.

2023 township GUIDE RAIL program

The 2023 Township Guide Rail Program began on November 30, 2023 and is anticipated to be completed in early December.  The final payment request will be reviewed when received from the Contractor.  The 2023 Township Guide Rail Program intends to replace or install guide rail along Canistear Road, Germantown Road, Morsetown Road, Lakeshore Drive, Mallory Road, and Bearfort Road using 2023 capital funding and funding from prior years utilizing the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council contract for guide rail installation.

2023 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING

Punchlist items of repair as a result of the mostly complete 2023 Township Road Resurfacing – Phase One program was reviewed and provided to the Contractor for repair.  Meetings were held with the Contractor to discuss the extents of the required repairs and the construction work on a portion of the program.  A few roads were deemed to be of unacceptable finish quality as a result of equipment failures and breakdowns the day of paving operations and therefore required repaving.  The Contractor was evaluating a timeframe to complete the work, weather permitting. When completed, the Phase One program resurfaced the following 3.6-miles of Township roads, or portions thereof: Cahill Cross Road (between 865’ west of Richmond Road and Ridge Road (North)), Edgar Drive, Schofield Road (between Maple Road and Hancock Drive), Grandview Lane, Hillside Lane, Orbit Road, Valley View Lane, Clermont Road, Daretown Road, Dover Road, Elberon Road, Ormond Road, Crawford Street, Weedon Drive, Yorkshire Avenue, Bracken Road, North Glenwood Road, Sweetbriar Road, Algonquian Way, Burlington Drive, Evanstan Avenue East, Mohican Trail, Newton Drive, Teo Terrace, Torne Mountain Road, Truro Road, Truro Road South, Stanley Street, Fox Court, Raven Court and Ryan Court.  The field work to begin plan preparation of the 2023 Township Road Resurfacing – Phase Two project (Appletree Lane and Lake Shore Drive, between Fanwood Court and Longhouse Drive; approximately 1.21 miles) is anticipated to be completed throughout the winter season for bidding procedures to occur next year and proposed resurfacing in early 2024.

UNION VALLEY ROAD, GREENWOOD LAKE TURNPIKE, LAKESIDE ROAD, & STAINSBY ROAD – TRAFFIC SIGNAL

As part of the ongoing work to move forward with the proposed traffic signal project at the Union Valley Road, Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Lakeside Road and Stainsby Road intersection, the revisions and work required for the traffic signal was discussed with Engineering Division staff and a proposal was requested for potential change orders for required work as a result of Passaic County’s requirements.  As a result of the Township Administrator meeting with the affected property owners, the owner of Block 3509 Lot 16 requested a driveway from Greenwood Lake Turnpike to his site. A one-way in driveway was proposed by the consultant traffic engineer and approved by the Passaic County Engineering Department and the Township Administrator. Final plans are being prepared for submission to Passaic County Engineering for their approval.