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Township outlines upgrades to pumps, crosswalks and utilities after recent storms
Summary
Officials told the Springfield Township Committee the township is replacing aging pump stations, adding lighted crosswalks and pursuing fixes for leaning utility poles and bundled wires; New Jersey American Water test pits on Route 78 were also flagged as a near-term traffic concern.
Township officials told the Springfield Township Committee they are moving forward with multiple public-works projects after recent storms highlighted drainage and pedestrian-safety needs.
The mayor reported the township maintains 840 stormwater basins and that debris left in gutters by landscapers is clogging basins during heavy rains. Officials said the township has ordered large replacement pumps for aging pump stations (some pumps had been in service more than 40 years) and that station work is already under way.
Separately, New Jersey American Water notified the township of test pits on Caldwell for water-line and valve replacement, described as two 15-by-15-foot test pits; officials warned the town to expect closures and said a coordination meeting with the county is scheduled for the 17th to align police, fire and DPW detours.
Pedestrian upgrades are planned: the township ordered lighted flashing crosswalk signs to be installed (locations named Evergreen and Wabino) and intends to repaint major intersections, crossing-guard locations and remaining crosswalks before school starts. Officials said the signs cost more than $10,000 each.
On overhead utilities, the committee reviewed options after inspections found leaning or damaged poles and bundled or cut wires. JCP&L staff were described as receptive; Verizon was reported as difficult to reach. Options discussed included burying lines (under a quarter mile), installing about six transformer poles (an internal estimate cited roughly $100,000) or running lines behind buildings pending redevelopment. Officials said Verizon had told the township the wires would be fixed "in 60 to 90 days," but members expressed skepticism given multi-year waits.
The committee also warned residents of a forthcoming phone-system cutover that may cause short disruptions and confirmed planned stump removal and replanting work at Oakland Park for safety and park construction planning.
The committee asked staff to continue coordination with utilities, DPW and county partners and to notify the public about road impacts when details from contractors are finalized.
