Village Likely to Repave Major Roads

The Ridgewood Village Council appears poised to make some infrastructure improvements to roads and stormwater drain systems throughout the village, with money left over to make Graydon ADA compliant, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said at last week's village council meeting.

Subject to good weather, West Ridgewood Avenue and Grove Street are likely to be repaved in late August, early September once the bid award from NJDOT funds is finalized, according to Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser.

The village employed the method of cold patching during the brutal winter to make temporary repairs to the roads, both of which face some of the worst potholes in Ridgewood. Now, those roads will be much smoother for drivers with the $1.66M state grant, funded in 2009 and 2010. Additionally, the village will need to meet ADA compliance with curb cuts as was the case with 2010's repaving of East Ridgewood Avenue, according to Rutishauser.

Gabbert said Wednesday that he believed enough money would be left over to upgrade Graydon Pool's facility to reach ADA compliance, which has been discussed by officials and groups affected. "We don't quite have a plan, but we have the funds," Gabbert said.

On consent agenda, the council approved a $148,000 contract with an Oakland-based contractor to re-pipe stormwater drain systems on Franklin Avenue, Grove Street and Washington Place. The work on Grove Street will begin before any street paving, Rutishauser said.