Hightstown seeks money for road, sidewalk repairs

The state Department of Transporation hands out grants for projects each year. The borough’s top priority is road reconstruction on Second Avenue.

By: Mark Moffa
   HIGHTSTOWN — The Borough Council approved applications this week for Department of Transportation trust funding to repave Second Avenue, Meadow Drive and Gilman Place.
   The borough also applied for funding to construct sidewalks on Leshin Lane, Second Avenue and Maxwell Avenue.
   According to Carmela Santaniello, the borough’s engineer, the DOT accepts up to three applications in three different categories, including road, pedestrian and bikeway improvements.
   The borough did not apply for any bikeway improvements.
   Ms. Santaniello said it is rare for the DOT to approve more than one application.
   "I’ve never seen anybody receive more than one in any category," she said.
   Road reconstruction on Second Avenue from Outcalt Street to Summit Street was listed as the borough’s top priority on the application. At a projected cost of $147,542, the project would include repaving the road, replacing the sidewalk and curb, and installing sidewalks and curbs where there currently are none.
   Meadow Drive is second, at an estimated cost of $171,122. In this project — which includes the entire length of the road from Orchard Avenue back to Orchard Avenue — the road would be repaved, the sidewalk and curb replaced, and a sidewalk and curb installed where currently there are none.
   Gilman Place, from Dutch Neck Road back to Dutch Neck Road, is third on the borough’s list, at a cost of $88,456. The project includes road repavement, new curbs and driveway aprons.
   As its priority sidewalk improvement application, the borough listed Leshin Lane, in front of Hightstown High School. The project, at a cost of $39,600, would install sidewalk on Leshin Lane between Westerlea Avenue and Spruce Court, and on Westerlea Avenue from Leshin Lane to the existing sidewalk.
   Second Avenue was listed second on the application for sidewalk construction. According to the application, the borough wants to install a sidewalk from Summit Street to Joseph Street because there is currently no sidewalk there and the street is used by children as a walking path to the Walter C. Black School. That project would cost about $84,579.
   Finally, at a projected cost of $55,462, the borough applied for curb and sidewalk installation and repair on Maxwell Avenue from Franklin Street (Route 33) to Monmouth Street.
   The borough likely will hear from the state as to which applications were accepted by October, Ms. Santaniello said. The funds then would be incorporated into next year’s budget and construction likely would occur next summer.