Cranford Will Get $1.8M In State Funding For Flood Mitigation Project

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford has experienced its fair share of flooding, especially when Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on the town back in September 2021.

Read more: Cranford, Other Union County Towns Drenched By Ida

The town's plans to address flooding issues received a major boost on Thursday with the approval of the state budget, which includes $1.8 million for Cranford to do a Southside Stormwater Improvement Project.

Gov. Phil Murphy stopped by Cranford on Friday to sign the New Jersey State budget that included this funding that was requested by the town in April.

“In April, we submitted a request for $1,870,906 to fund critical stormwater improvements in a 50-acre area that includes South Union Avenue, Retford Avenue, Walnut Avenue and High Street,” said Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty in a statement. “This wasn’t to do a study but to actually get a project done."

Last fall, the township hired engineering firm Mott MacDonald to propose solutions for flood mitigation in this particular neighborhood.

Prunty said water tends to drain toward South Avenue and High Street, which causes repetitive flooding for residents and businesses — particularly where High Street meets Chestnut Avenue and South Avenue.

Mott MacDonald proposed a 2-phase stormwater improvement project, including an express sewer and pumping equipment to move stormwater out of the neighborhood.

"Having a proposed plan with cost estimates strengthened our funding request and demonstrated our readiness to implement a project,” Prunty said.

According to the mayor's announcement, the appropriation in the state budget will fund Phase 1 of the Southside Stormwater Improvement Project.

Phase 2, costing approximately $1 million, will be funded with a $400,000 contribution from Iron Ore Developers as part of its South & Chestnut Redevelopment Project and $600,000 from the Township’s Capital Budget.

“Securing this funding demonstrates the importance of collaboration and partnership in local government,” Prunty said.

Prunty said that she and Deputy Mayor Jason Gareis worked closely with Senate President Nick Scutari's office to advocate for Cranford and receive this funding.

“We’re grateful to Governor Murphy, Senator Scutari, and Assemblyman Craig Coughlin for their efforts to help Cranford address one area of repetitive and catastrophic flooding that has occurred in town,” Prunty said.

“We know there is a great deal more that needs to be done in other areas of Cranford and we are working to define additional projects. But, we view this as a great start and look forward to building on this collaboration for future projects that will bring relief to Cranford’s residents,” the mayor said.