It is not the werewolf nor any other creature of the dark that residents fear along low-lying areas from Trask Avenue to Avenue A along West First Street when the full moon rises over Bayonne. It is flood water creeping up from Newark Bay. In fact, if the proper combination of events occurs at the same time, such as high tides, a stiff wind from the east, and heavy rain, residents scramble to keep the water out of basements and cars from being ruined.
Steve Gallo, executive director of the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority (BMUA), said the problem started in September of 1985 when Hurricane Gloria hit local shores with 85-mile-per-hour sustained winds. Although Gloria had weakened significantly before hitting land, it managed to break off the storm water outfall pipe that drains lower JFK Boulevard.
“The county tried several repair methods, but none were entirely successful,” Gallo said. “Over the year, it became buried in silt and debris, impacting its ability to drain water from the intersection.”
To help deal with the problem, the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded the BMUA a $1 million grant.
Generally called the Bergen Point project, the BMUA will:
Clean and inspect the southern interceptor (the main collector) at West First Street.
* Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
Excavate all storm water outfalls along the Kill Van Kull and replace their aging tide gates with self-cleaning Tideflex Valves – designed to let storm water out while keeping tides out of the system. Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
* Install protection at each outfall to keep debris and silt from blocking the outfalls again. Use the A-Jacks system – Concrete Blocks in the shape of Jacks. Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
* Clean, upgrade and improve the West First Street Storm Water Pump Station by installing new pumps, increasing pumping capacity and installing a backup generator. Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
* Reconfigure drainage patterns in Avenue A at West First Street to allow for more efficient drainage. Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
* Investigate a storm water outfall pipe on the Texaco property that seems to be blocked and not draining. Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.
* The BMUA will be taking bids at the end of the month to extend the Boulevard outfall line further out into the Kill van Kull on piles beyond the effects of wave and silting action and install a tide flex valve on this pipe. “When all of these improvements are completed, we expect to see a positive impact upon our ability to drain water during storm events,” Gallo said. “We’ve been working towards this goal for a long time now and the project is expected to be completed by the end of fall.” Clean and inspect all inlets along West First Street.