ENGINEERING DIVISION MONTHLY REPORT
DECEMBER 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.  After the December 18th heavy rain event, an inspection was performed by walking the entire stream section under review and documenting areas by photograph.  The stormwater infrastructure of the area is being reviewed and mapped with the intent to be for the consulting Township Engineer to review.

bus shelter & BUS STOP

As part of the ongoing work to install a new bus stop (Marshall Hill Road) and bus shelter (Union Valley Road), the proposed plan for each project was discussed with NJ Transit.  As a result, NJ Transit is amenable to a new bus stop on Marshall Hill Road at the discretion of Passaic County as the County owns and maintains the right-of-way.  NJ Transit approved the conceptual layout for the proposed replacement bus shelter on Union Valley Road.  A follow-up inquiry was made for each location to Passaic County for an update regarding their review as both sites are within a county right-of-way.

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.

2023-2024 SNOW PLOWING SERVICES

Snow plow route design was completed for the 2023-2024 snow plowing season.  Supplemental documentation, generally for internal purposes, continued and will continue throughout the 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.  A total of 24 route maps were created utilizing GIS software for the supplemental contractors.  Nine maps and twelve supplemental documents were created utilizing various software and programs for Department of Public Works use while additional documents for winter operations are created as needed.  Multiple meetings and conversations were held to discuss operations and needs in order to provide as much assistance as required for successful operations.  The Department of Public Works is responsible for snow and ice removal on over 190 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.  Information was gathered from various departments for the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, which was submitted to the Stormwater Consultant Engineering Firm.  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.  A conference call was held with the design architect to discuss various components of the project.  An on-site meeting is anticipated in the near future to discuss the project and concerns of all parties.  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 Township is awaiting response from the Developer for miscellaneous restoration items.

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 44 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 7 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 52 occasions.  Field inspections, photographs, reports and/or follow up were required for 4 of these issues.
  • Technical assistance was provided, for various issues, to other departments on 54 occasions.
  • File research, map copies and/or information was provided to professionals on 10 occasions.
  • Assistance was provided to builders, contractors and utilities on 7 occasion.
  • 3 Right of Way Entry Permit Applications were received, processed, and returned to the Clerk’s office.
  • 2 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
  • Rain inspections were performed during heavy rain events at various locations to record and identify potential improvements, if any.  Heavy rain events led to Town-wide flooding.
  • Two stormwater infrastructure drainage areas were requested for identifying the drainage components.  The area will be identified when time allows.
  • A Webinar “Stormwater Design Myths and Misconceptions” was attended.
  • 1 Board of Adjustment application was reviewed for compliance with the resolution.
  • 4 weekly reports for Administration were prepared.
  • Various stormwater training videos were watched as required by NJDEP for Tier A communities.
  • 1 safety committee meeting was attended.

 

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 into December. Project close out items were prepared in anticipation of informing the New Jersey Department of Transportation of the project status and updated in the NJDOT Project Management and Reporting System (PMRS) for electronic management of NJDOT grants.  Material sampling (core tests) were required, as is done for all NJDOT funded projects, and completed in November.  Once final inspection is completed by NJDOT the Township can begin closing out the project within a six month period.  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 develop a proposal for development of final design and construction documents.  Additional meetings and conversations were held in order to identify the concerns of the project to the consultant design engineer.  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.  A preliminary/conceptual design, as originally proposed during its initial evaluation, was provided to the consulting Township Engineer in September of 2023 for review.

2023 township GUIDE RAIL program

The 2023 Township Guide Rail Program began on November 30, 2023 and was completed on December 1, 2023.  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

Remaining roads of the 2023 Township Road Resurfacing – Phase One program were resurfaced during a warm weather window and punch list items were completed that remained from the program.  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.  Preliminary 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) began and is anticipated to be completed throughout the winter season (field work as weather allows) for bidding procedures to occur next year and proposed resurfacing in 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 the design engineer, Passaic County and Township staff.  Final plans were submitted to the Passaic County Engineers Office for review and comments.