Stimulus Funds to Create Jobs in Lakewood, Beginning With Sidewalks On North Lake Drive

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) has awarded $210,000.00 in stimulus funds to Lakewood Township specifically to stimulate jobs. What project would create the most jobs and the most long term benefits? According to Ervin Oross, Jr., the director of Community Development, deciding how to best use the $210,000.00 was no easy task. After a great deal of deliberation, Mayor Robert W. Singer and the Township committee have decided on a few construction projects. The first project will focus on repairing and putting in sidewalks on North Lake Drive. Mayor Singer says, “The sidewalks along North Lake Drive are broken, chipped, and generally falling apart. They pose a hazard to people walking between Route 9 and Forest Avenue. They are dangerous for those who want to enjoy the lakeside view, family gatherings, and events, such as parades and other events at the All War Memorial Amphitheater.”
Repairing and constructing sidewalks along North Lake Drive would also help pedestrian traffic in the downtown area along with benefitting Georgian Court University and Beth Medrash Govoha.
“The logic,” says Mayor Singer, “is that contractors, laborers, cement people—whoever is needed to put in these sidewalks—will be newly employed. The long-term benefit is that contractors and developers will be drawn to the area for its further development, which will also create jobs.”
If enough funding is available, the township plans to address another hazardous road condition on North Lake Drive and Case Road where the guard rail curves. At that juncture, there are no sidewalks, and both the bicycle path and the jogging path end abruptly, making it extremely dangerous as cars maneuver the turn. The township engineer has proposed a “boardwalk” concept that would result in a pathway next to the roadway with the guardrail as protection in case of a car accident.
Now that the decision has been made about how to best use the Stimulus Funds, the Lakewood Township engineering department is preparing bid specifications for curbs and sidewalks. Oross says, “We’re hoping for good competitive pricing in this market.” The bid specifications should be available by this November and the award will be made in December. (Fran Kirschner)

8 COMMENTS

member of Lakewood October 27, 2009 9:21 am At 9:21 am

why don’t they fix the sidewalks on streets that need it more? North Lake Drive is relatively a small street ln the big Lakewood.
anonymous October 27, 2009 9:52 am At 9:52 am

How is that going to stimulate jobs?
Anonymous October 27, 2009 10:12 am At 10:12 am

The logic,” says Mayor Singer, “is that contractors, laborers, cement people—whoever is needed to put in these sidewalks—will be newly employed. The long-term benefit is that contractors and developers will be drawn to the area for its further development, which will also create jobs.”
anonymous October 27, 2009 11:33 am At 11:33 am

Why spend money on sidewalks? Maybe we should educate the community on how to use sidewalks.
Gershon Gold October 27, 2009 12:06 pm At 12:06 pm

I for one think that sidewalks are more desperately needed on Route 9 South of Spruce.
Chaim Joseph October 27, 2009 1:30 pm At 1:30 pm

Gershon

You are right that sidewalks are needed more on Route 9, however in this town things are not done in a sane way.
WhyAreYouBotheringMe October 27, 2009 1:43 pm At 1:43 pm

anonymous says:
October 27, 2009 at 11:33 am
Why spend money on sidewalks? Maybe we should educate the community on how to use sidewalks.

i agree, everywhere i see new sidewalks installed “e.g. miller road” pedestrians still continue to walk in the street, either stop wasting money on building them or have the cops write tickets for people walking in the street when there is a sidewalk available
anonymous October 27, 2009 3:43 pm At 3:43 pm

Maybe Sgt. Langenbergen should be out there enforcing this sidewalk thing

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