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Council presses contractor safety after Aces Park and RPM construction issues
Summary
Council members raised safety and oversight concerns about the Aces Park project and an RPM construction site after county review found traffic-control plans noncompliant; the township arranged police traffic control and approved a reduced-cost stabilization change order for the Aces Park court.
Council members and township staff pressed contractors on site-safety lapses at two local work sites and approved a change order to stabilize the Aces Park basketball court.
Council members said contractors at the Aces Park project had worked without adequate cones, flaggers or road signage and expressed concern that inconsistent safety practices could expose the township to liability. One council member said inspectors should be full-time on certain projects to ensure compliance and public safety. Town staff confirmed cones were placed at times but that flaggers had been absent on some days and arranged police traffic-control coverage for upcoming heavy-equipment stabilization work.
Separately, a county safety visit found RPM Construction was not following its approved traffic-control plan and that the plan did not meet MUTCD standards. The planning and zoning engineer, Fred Tourk, and township staff convened parties and directed RPM to revise its traffic-control plan; the revision may include temporary partial closures of Lipincot Avenue and must be coordinated with police and county officials to minimize impacts on nearby businesses and residents.
On Aces Park, the engineer described two stabilization options for the failing subbase: a 12-inch stone undercut (approximate quote $50,000) or a cement pulverize-and-stabilize approach that came in lower after negotiations (approximately $30,000–$35,000). Council authorized the lower-cost change order to preserve the grant-funded project’s schedule and durability while continuing to press contractors on site safety and traffic controls.
Town staff said residents and nearby businesses will be notified of traffic changes and that police will maintain a presence during heavy equipment work to mitigate risk.
