Some of Weehawken’s main streets will receive a facelift next summer, courtesy of the state.
The state Department of Transportation announced last week that five Hudson County municipalities, including Weehawken, will receive a total of $1.3 million in state grants from the state Transportation Trust Fund for resurfacing roadways and providing better traffic signals.
Weehawken will receive $292,000 that will go to resurfacing various streets throughout the town. Hoboken is slated to receive $411,000, West New York $395,000, Weehawken, $292,000, Union City, $157,000, and Guttenberg, $122,000.
Mayor Richard Turner said that the state DOT funding will enable the town to repave 48th Street, Gregory Avenue, Hauxhurst Avenue, Sterling Avenue, Jefferson Street and Denning Place.
“Fulton Avenue is also a possibility, depending on how the bids go,” Turner said. “When we complete these projects next summer, it will complete the entire cycle of having the entire town’s streets repaved within the last five years.”
“I am pleased to see that the 2003 Transportation Trust Fund grants for the 33rd District will be used to resurface a number of roads and improve the flow of traffic in Hoboken and Union City, and in other areas of Hudson County,” State Sen. Bernard Kenny said.
Turner said, “Senator Kenny’s district does well in getting these grants because of the work of our legislative delegation.” Turner also credited State Assembly Speaker Albio Sires and Assemblyman Rafael Fraguela. “They push very hard for their constituents,” Turner said. “It’s a powerful delegation in Trenton. In our case, I think the state DOT recognizes that a lot of our streets received wear and tear due to use by vehicles trying to get to and from the Lincoln Tunnel. We’re able to make a strong case in Trenton because of the tunnel.”
Turner said that Weehawken is able to receive such substantial grants because of the efficiency in using the funding.
“We get the work done fast and will do the work as soon as we get the money,” Turner said. “Some towns hold the money and get extensions to do the work. We’ve been historically aggressive in getting the work done. We do things the right way.”
Turner said that now the funding has been approved, the town can put the projects out to bids with contractors by the spring of 2003. The work will be done in the summer months, to coincide with vacations and school closings, so there is less vehicular traffic in the neighborhoods.
“We work very aggressively in the summer months getting the projects done as soon as possible,” Turner said. “We want to provide as little inconvenience as possible.”