Water Street Reopens After Eight-Month Closure

After numerous delays and plenty of complaints from residents, Water Street in Tinton Falls has reopened.

The road was closed for eight months after it was severely damaged by Hurricane Irene in August. Heavy erosion by the nearby Pine Brook made the road unsafe for pedestrian and automobile traffic.

Mayor Michael Skudera said the road reopened at approximately 3 p.m. Friday.

Mayor Skudera said the length of the construction was not ideal, but that he was happy that it was not over budget.

"Due to the complexity of the reconstruction, the project was over its time-limit; however the project was not over budget," Mayor Skudera said in a statement.

Borough Engineer David Marks said the borough budgeted $500,000 for the project and that the total cost of the project is under that amount and is about $330,000.

A recent change order cost the borough an additional $63,370 and was necessary because for the contractor to purchase new materials needed to finish construction, according to Marks.

The contractor encountered dense clay, which restricted the depth of the aluminum sheets needed to reinforce the bank. This caused the borough to modify its plan and use the soil screws in order to install the retaining wall.

Delays in the start of the project stemmed from receiving the required permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to the borough web site. The permits were needed for the installation of a retaining wall that is close proximity to the Pine Brook.

The cost of the project aside, residents were unhappy because the road was closed for as long as it was. Residents routinely vented their frustrations at council meetings and asked for updates on the project.

Tinton Falls Councilmembers also expressed frustration with the project, and Mayor Skudera said he was sympathetic toward the residents who felt the same way.

"I am glad that the project is complete and understand the frustrations of the residents who were not able to access Water Street during its reconstruction - my family also lives in the area and we travel on that road daily," Mayor Skudera said.