County awards pact for road work

ALLENTOWN – The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has awarded a contract to Lucas Brothers Inc., Morganville, for improvements to the intersection of Old York Road/South Main Street and Ellisdale Road/New Road.

South Main Street/Old York Road is designated as Monmouth County Route 28.

The contract for the improvements is in the amount of $306,306.

According to a memo from Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore, seven bids were received from companies interested in undertaking the project.

The lowest bid was received from Lucas Brothers and it was 18.3 percent below the county’s estimate of $375,000, according to Ettore. The highest bid received was in the amount of $558,594.

Ettore recommended that the contract for the project be awarded to Lucas Brothers. The freeholders awarded the contract on March 23.

Laura Kirkpatrick, the county’s director of public information, previously said the county “is concerned with the existing traffic operations and safety at the intersection, including available sight distances, pedestrian crossings and potential conflicts with access to properties at the corners of the intersection.”

She said the improvements will consist of a realignment of Ellisdale Road/New Road, an increased curb radii for school buses, ramps that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, crosswalks, storm water conveyance system upgrades, milling and paving, line striping, topsoil and seeding.

Kirkpatrick said construction could begin in May and end in August.

Mayor Greg Westfall said officials from Allentown and Upper Freehold Township have agreed on the scope of the improvements.