ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
APRIL 2023

Charles Carbone, P.E., Supervising Engineering Aide

 

ALPINE COURT

Final restoration was completed by the utility company as part of the right-of-way entry permit process.  Engineering staff provided inspection during the final paving restoration for the portion of Alpine Court near Bordeaux Terrace.

BEARFORT ROAD

Technical assistance was provided to the Department of Public Works (“DPW”) for the restoration of a fire lane causing drainage concerns to a property on Bearfort Road.

BUBBLING SPRINGS PARK

Field survey work was completed at the area of the parking lot and swimming lake entrance for a potential future drainage and accessibility project.  In-house Engineering Division staff utilized former survey data at the park and expanded the survey.  The survey data was uploaded and saved for future design.  Technical assistance was provided to the DPW for spring maintenance of the park.

FARVIEW COURT

Preliminary drainage test pits were performed to identify underground utility location and potential conflict with proposed drainage improvements in the area of the intersection with Macopin Road.  Precast drainage structures were designed and prepared for quote requisition.  The Farview Court drainage improvements intend to address icing concerns at the intersection of Macopin Road.

MARSHALL HILL ROAD

File research and technical assistance was provided to the Passaic County Engineering Department to identify failing stormwater structures at the intersection of Marshall Hill Road and Union Valley Road.

MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection enhanced the requirements of stormwater related items for Tier ‘A’ municipalities, such as West Milford.  Though some items have delayed implementation schedules, a majority of items require compliance beginning in 2023.  The Township has utilized consultant services to identify needs and requirements of the stormwater regulations in the past.  A revised proposal was provided from the consultant for Township review.  The New Jersey Highlands Council was contacted regarding potential funding opportunities to assist the municipality for the new stormwater regulations.  As part of the 2023 annual report for 2022 activities, Engineering responsive records were compiled prior to the April 10th deadline.

LOT DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW

Two (2) 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.

RECREATION CENTER

File research was performed and technical assistance was provided to the DPW for the location of a water storage tank in the parking lot of the Recreation Center.  Archived notes and field measurements were utilized to locate the underground tank.

ROUTE 23 ROCKFALL MITIGATION

A resolution was provided for Governing Body consideration at the April 19th meeting to support the New Jersey Department of Transportation potential future rockfall mitigation project along sections of Route 23 in the Township.  The approved resolution was forwarded to the NJDOT Regional Coordinator.

SCHOFIELD ROAD

Preliminary drainage test pits were performed to identify underground utility location and potential conflict with proposed drainage improvements in the area of the intersection with Post Brook Pond.  A precast drainage structure was designed and prepared for quote requisition.  The Schofield Road drainage improvement intends to retrofit an existing stormwater drainage system with a sedimentation structure in order to capture sediment and debris influenced by gravity.

TOWNSHIP ANNEX PROJECT

A meeting was held on April 4th with Township officials to discuss the project.  A Notice to Proceed was issued on April 10th and signed by the Contractor within the ten day response period.  The work for the contract began within the required time frame for the 270 calendar project.  Meetings were attended and inquiries responded to when made by the Contractor regarding the project.  Other Township projects anticipated to be completed in the future were reviewed to determine priority order of completion.  Quotes were sought for a vendor to provide security cameras and a door entry system for municipal employees.  A field meeting was attended for communication utility connectivity for the property and quotes sought for same.

TOWNSHIP PROPERTIES – THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NJ

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey contacted the Township to inquire into the status of miscellaneous Township properties adjacent to State-owned lands.  A preliminary review of the requested properties was performed and comments provided to the Office of Administration.

VILLAGE ON RIDGE

File research was performed to identify the status of the subdivision and existing performance bonds at the request of the developer.  Inquiries were made to the Planning Department to identify last action taken by pertinent offices for the subdivision.  A meeting with Township staff is anticipated to be scheduled in May to discuss the subdivision.

WARWICK TURNPIKE – STORM HARDENING

A preliminary site meeting was attended to discuss a future potential storm hardening project by the utility company Orange & Rockland.  Orange & Rockland has begun planning to survey and design the storm hardening provisions along Warwick Turnpike to reduce overhead utility outages during severe events or downed utility lines.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Technical assistance, regarding lot development plans, storm drainage issues, active construction projects, flood zones, right-of-way issues, etc. was provided to concerned residents on 45 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 9 of these issues.
  • 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 66 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 6 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 49 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 11 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 5 occasions.
  • 1 Right of Way Entry Permit Application was received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 7 OPRA requests were responded to.
  • Assistance (office or field inspection) was provided to residents regarding 3 potential soil operations.
  • A USDOT Safe Streets For All applicant webinar was attended.
  • An Americans with Disabilities Act meeting was attended.
  • Research continued regarding the status and ownership of Deborah Lane.
  • One Administrator meeting was attended.
  • NJDEP Green Acres was contacted as part of a follow up response regarding a portion of Green Acres property in order to determine its current status.
  • Passaic County officials were contacted regarding emergency county culvert repairs.
  • Updates began to the Township street map in order to begin printing the requested 20 maps.

     

    CAPITAL PROJECTS

     

    ROAD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – HANOVER, ALPINE, ET AL

    The Hanover, Alpine, Princeton, Lyons and Beverly Road Improvement Project design continued.  Field confirmations of conditions were completed in April and the preliminary plans were revised to represent any changes observed.  The preliminary design was reviewed internally and is intended to be revised as needed prior to being provided to the consultant Township Engineer for review. 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.

    2022 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING – Gould Road, Van Orden Road

    The Contractor was contacted regarding remaining minor work, repair work and payment procedures for the remainder of the project and an estimated timeframe for completion.  The resurfacing project accounted for the repaving of 1.8-miles of Township roads.

    2023 TOWNSHIP ROAD RESURFACING

    Preliminary field work and review of proposed roads for the 2023 resurfacing program were reviewed.  Field work will begin as the schedule allows to begin operations to identify required preparatory work and similar prior to scheduling resurfacing. The Department of Public Works was provided the list of roads previously in order to begin maintenance of the roadways when weather allows.

    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 title searches were reviewed by the consultant traffic engineer and surveyor to identify the property limits.  A meeting was proposed to discuss the findings with Township staff and is anticipated in May.

    2023 Township Crack Seal Program

    The field survey work for the 2023 program has begun.  Once complete, a recommendation for contract award will be provided for Township Council consideration.  Since instituting the program in 2002, the surface pavement cracks have been sealed on more than 70 miles of Township roads.  Studies show that sealing pavement cracks can extend the service life of the surface course by as much as five years.