Hoboken officials say Marin and Bloomfield closures will likely extend into May 2026

City project managers told the Hoboken City Council on March 2 that major, previously unrecorded underground utilities and necessary drainage and micropile redesigns have forced a likely extension of planned road closures through the end of May 2026 to complete flood-gate and rail installation. "We said we would open in March 2026. We are looking again at extension into May, May 2026 to be able to get all the work done and the rails installed," Kim, the project presenter, said.

The presenters said the work includes deeper micropiles, foundations, rebar and a topping slab that allows gate rollers to seat correctly. They described several unexpected findings while excavating: a JCMUA water main that required completion before gas relocations, Verizon duct banks encased in concrete that the company did not know about, and other unmapped utilities that must be chased to owners before crews can sleeve or relocate them.

Council members pressed for clearer communications with residents about the reasons for the delay and what will be done to reduce disruption. Councilman Cohen asked for a neighborhood meeting near 15th and Bloomfield so residents can see photos and ask questions. "I think having advanced notice for the folks that live in that neighborhood of what's coming and why, I think it'll be helpful," he said.

Councilwoman Fisher and others urged more up-front test pitting to identify subsurface surprises before full closures. Fisher said performing more work up front could avoid returning to a site twice for monolithic pours and related traffic disruptions. The presenters said they are changing test-pit protocols and plan to implement more extensive pits and surveys before large events such as FIFA to capture unknown utilities and reduce repeat closures.

Officials also described coordination with nearby projects. "New Jersey Transit Long Slip Project ... have actually have a support for us for extending this closure because they need to finish their project," the presenter said, noting multiple parties are working in the same corridor.

On operations and maintenance, the city said flood gates must be exercised at least once per year and that an O&M agreement, currently in draft, will set detailed maintenance and testing procedures. The state has offered to fund development of a granular O&M plan at no cost to the city; staff said the city’s construction management firm will support plan development and that the installation itself will count as one required exercise.

What happens next: the administration said it will go back to the public with updated schedules and an outreach plan before major events, continue the test-pit program, finalize O&M details with the state-funded proposal, and aim to limit long closures where possible. The council did not take a formal vote on the construction schedule at this meeting.