Engineer: Academy Street and other town projects progress; Chick-fil-A to submit bonds and permits

The borough engineer provided a project update April 22, reporting steady progress on multiple residential and commercial developments and upcoming roadwork that will affect traffic and timing.

The update said townhouse construction in the Camelot area is progressing but still has punch-list items; work at East High Street Estates is also moving forward. Demountable Concepts is proceeding with site work on Leo McCabe Boulevard. Contractors will replace concrete curb and sidewalk at the Rowan University entrance and at the high school, work that will require detours; the engineer said that resurfacing funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation is scheduled for the week of May 19 to resurface the roadway from the railroad tracks east toward Carpenter Street and that the work will be restriped as currently configured.

The engineer noted that Alfred Avenue is a separate DOT-funded project that was awarded by council at an April 3 meeting and awaits DOT approval and contract finalization; the borough expects work mid- to late summer pending DOT sign-off. South Academy townhouses remain under construction with the borough replacing galvanized pipes as part of a utilities upgrade and the developer completing remaining site work.

On commercial development, the engineer said Chick-fil-A will submit required escrows and bonds “in the next week or two,” which the engineer described as the final items required before the company can obtain permits and begin construction.

The engineer also alerted council to long lead times for water-and-sewer supplies, noting some parts have lead times exceeding six months and are delaying some projects. Borough staff said they are coordinating work windows with school schedules and county agencies to minimize traffic impacts during construction and paving.