A Long Branch boardwalk improvement project expected to start earlier this year hit a snag when bids the city received exceeded the amount of money bonded by the city.
The Long Branch Council recently passed a resolution rejecting bade bids of $998,397 by Circle-A Construction Inc. and $968,885 by Black Rock Enterprises, LLC.
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The Long Branch Council adopted a $950,000 bond ordinance last December for improvements to the boardwalk between Morris Avenue and Brighton Avenue.
The appropriations included a $421,000 grant from Green Acres for the project and a $421,000 loan from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP loan is zero interest and is repayable over 20 year according to Long Branch Chief Financial Officer Ron Mehlhorn.
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The city is funding the remaining $107,400 of the project, according to ordinance.
Officials are expected to open new bids for the project Wednesday morning at Long Branch City Hall. If the bids are favorable, the council could award the project to the lowest responsible bidder at a future council meeting.
The project was originally going to start last spring, but because of the high bids, it could not get started.
The boardwalk improvements include railing and decking replacement, repairs to paved areas, the installation of playground equipment on the beach at North Bath Avenue, the rehabilitation of the comfort station at North Bath Avenue and landscaping.
The boardwalk repairs would take the project just south of the third phase of Pier Village which was recently approved by the council.
Pier Village Phase 3 will also include widening and improving the boardwalk from Melrose Terrace to Morris Avenue.
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