Kenilworth engineer reports sidewalk and parking-lot work; Market Street mostly paved but utility delays remain

The borough engineer provided a capital-improvement update, reporting that bids for boulevard sidewalks were completed (six blocks processed as alternates) and a preconstruction meeting was scheduled for municipal parking-lot paving at borough facilities.

Work on the memorial for The Path has begun and is expected to finish this year; the municipal parking lots will be paved after logistics are worked out to move vehicles while construction occurs. The engineer said the majority of Market Street paving has been completed—"the worst part of it's done"—but several segments remain deferred because underground work and gas-main replacements have not been scheduled by the gas company. Staff told council the borough has not received a firm commitment from the utility; the company previously said work might occur this year but now may be delayed until the end of next year.

Council members raised the business impacts, recounting a recent report from a business owner that a truck hit a bump on Market Street, damaged a storefront, and underscoring frustration about being dependent on the utility schedule. Council asked staff to continue coordination and to seek contingency measures so businesses are not unduly affected.

Separately, council and staff confirmed that senior parking markings and other lot striping will be done concurrently with the municipal lot work and that the police lot will be used for temporary parking during construction when possible.

Provenance: engineer’s capital-project update and Market Street discussion recorded in the engineer’s report segment.