Project manager updates: paving contracts awarded, Anderson Street bridge design advances; excavation rules, winter moratorium reiterated

Hackensack, N.J. — At the Sept. 30 meeting the city’s project manager, Ryan Westra, briefed council members on multiple public‑works projects and on rules that govern street openings and repairs.

Westra said paving contracts were awarded at the previous meeting and that construction-administration proposals would be awarded to RVE at the council meeting later that night; “once they’re awarded, we could progress with scheduling, notice to proceed, things like that,” he said.

Work in progress and schedule: Westra reported that repairs at Firehouse Engine 2 remain under way after contractors encountered larger-than-anticipated openings during demolition; crews are adding rebar and continuing structural repairs. He said the Johnson Park Sports Complex site contractor should return shortly following a utility redesign and delivery of drainage structures, and that concepts for the area formerly occupied by a building will be presented at a future meeting.

Anderson Street–Cedar Lane bridge replacement: Westra said the Michael Baker project team, Bergen County officials and neighboring municipalities have met with city staff; the bridge project is in final design and Westra estimated the design phase at “approximately 18 to 24 months,” with anticipated construction in late 2027 or early 2028. The current design includes a sidewalk, shoulders on each side, two travel lanes and a center median. Westra said portions of Johnson Park and half of the former Sears lot will be used for staging, and the riverwalk will be rerouted during construction. A community stakeholder meeting will be scheduled by the project team.

Utilities and meter upgrades: Westra said Veolia is upgrading water meters and that the city has coordinated location changes for meters at Memorial Park, the Atlantic Street parking garage, HackPack, City Hall and Johnson Park. He also said PSE&G will perform rear service work on about 25 roads this season.

Excavation ordinance and moratoria: Westra reviewed the city’s excavation standards (chapter 148, article 8), updated in 2020. He said the city enforces a five‑year moratorium on resurfaced roads: openings in roads paved more than five years ago receive infrared seamless repairs for single small openings (up to 50 square feet); anything over that threshold generally requires curb‑to‑curb mill-and-pave work. Westra also reminded the council there is a winter moratorium (no openings without city approval) from November through April.

Emergency repair and drainage work: Westra described an emergency excavation on State Street after crews discovered a depression and a void beneath the roadway over a combined sewer. Crews excavated and found brick culvert and clay lateral pipes, compacted the trench with dense graded aggregate (DGA), refilled the area and repaved.

Grants: Westra noted that Bergen County’s CDBG funding rounds were announced and that the city has until December to submit applications; the city historically uses CDBG for resurfacing but other projects may qualify.

Westra’s update covered technical details for upcoming procurement and scheduling and flagged neighborhood impacts during construction and staging.