Grants totaling $395,000

slated for Leonardine Ave.

By jennifer dome

Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — A smoother driving surface is in the works for Leonardine Avenue, thanks to grant money awarded to the borough from the State Transportation Trust Fund.

Mayor Robert Szegeti announced this week that the borough will receive $185,000 from the state for the second phase of the repaving project. The borough already received funds totaling $210,000 for the first phase, which is scheduled to open for bidding on Nov. 26, Szegeti said.

"The state funding assistance is obviously a great benefit to our taxpayers," Szegeti said. "We thank our legislative delegation for their help in assuring we receive our fair share each year."

The first phase of the repaving project along Leonardine Avenue will start at Old Bridge Turnpike and continue to Sheinfine Avenue. The second phase will continue the resurfacing from Sheinfine Avenue to Constitution Way, according to the mayor.

While the bids for the first phase will be opened next week, the proposed date for completion of the improvements remains undetermined due to possible weather problems, Szegeti said.

Leonardine Avenue has been selected for this year’s repaving grant since it is a heavily traveled road and has several cracks in its surface, Szegeti said. There are also corners of the street that need ramps for the handicapped to be put in, which is part of the repaving improvements, he said.

Last year, Johnson Place was repaved with the money from the Transportation Trust Fund, the mayor said.