Officials blame weather.
By: Josh Appelbaum
The steel framing of a new $3.2 million Cranbury Police Station has been erected, but after a month of winter-weather-related delays, contractors say they’ll need an extra 10 days to complete the building.
In addition, the cost for construction could increase for a gas-powered, hot-water heater the township decided to install a gas heater because it is cheaper to run but costs more initially. Other added costs are for additional security measures and an additional conduit for cable, phone and electrical wiring, according to Mark Berkowsky, whose firm, Berkowsky and Associates, is managing construction for the project. He said he did not have estimates for the cost of the additions.
On Monday, Mr. Berkowsky reported to the Township Committee that M&K Contracting had to shut the police station work site down sporadically in February due to inclement weather, leading to the expected delays.
He said 10 days should be more than enough time for the contractor to make up time lost. The station was expected to be completed by Aug. 28.
With the frame of the building nearly complete, contractors are installing interior supports and structures. Mr. Berkowsky said exterior studs are complete, and site drainage is halfway done.
In addition, M&K was cited with a notice of violation in February for soil erosion by Freehold Soil Conservation, part of the New Jersey Natural Resources department, but Mr. Berkowsky said construction crews remedied the violations by cleaning soil from Police Drive and installing concrete track pads to remove mud from tires before they pull onto Station Road. The violation had no impact on delays.
Construction on the station began in November after the contractor for the Station Road Home Depot warehouse vacated the site and the Holland House was moved. The Police Department is expected to move in by the end of September.
Monday’s report was the fifth monthly update Mr. Berkowsky has given to the Township Committee.
Under the current plan, the new police station will be a one-story, L-shaped, 16,000-square-foot building. It will be built on a 1.9-acre parcel on Station Road.