The city received $760,000 to pay for work on Music Mountain and Cottage Hill.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE Officials have announced the receipt of $760,000 in grants from the state Department of Transportation to pay for drainage work on Music Mountain and Cottage Hill.
The state awarded $530,000 for improvements to Music Mountain and $230,000 for work on Cottage Hill.
Drainage improvements on Music Mountain probably will start sometime in 2005, according to Mayor David Del Vecchio. The project first needs to go out to bid, he said.
Drainage improvements on Cottage Hill are being handled in three phases, Mayor Del Vecchio said Monday. The grant of $230,000 will pay for the second phase, which officials hope to begin in 2005.
The first phase was completed several years ago, according to Director of Public Works Paul Cronce. Drainage work was completed on Lincoln Avenue between Studdiford and Stryker streets, including catch basins, plus curbing on the north side of Lincoln, he said.
The city hopes to begin work on the second phase in 2005 with drainage improvements continuing west on Lincoln Avenue, but first surveying work must be completed, Mr. Cronce said.
The third phase will occur "wherever basic drainage needs to be addressed" and has not been determined yet, according to Mr. Cronce.
Neither Mayor Del Vecchio or Mr. Cronce could quote a figure Monday for the total cost of drainage improvements.
Officials last year said the drainage project on Cottage Hill, plus improvements to North Franklin Street, would cost an estimated total of $550,000. To finance the cost of some of the drainage on Cottage Hill, plus other major improvement projects, including the renovation of the former Acme building into the city’s new justice center, the city in June 2003 approved $2.4 million in general improvement bonds.
In a related matter, improvements to Swan Street should be completed within the next few weeks, Mr. Cronce said. Awaiting completion is the process of milling and blacktopping the road.
"It’s more than just wear and tear" on Swan Street, he said. "It’s just never had proper drainage to begin with."
Among the work completed on Swan Street was the installation of curbing and pipes.
In addition, the city was able to add several more parking spaces to the street, Mr. Cronce said.