WOODCLIFF LAKE—A low bid approaching $300,000 was received March 24 to undertake the Causeway Streetscape Project, a beautification project delayed by bids received last year that were hundreds of thousands over what the Borough Council originally budgeted.
The initially high bids were the result of fencing included in bid specs. However, fencing was not included in the recent bid specs.
Of six bids received March 24, the lowest was from Marini Brothers, Hackensack, at $294.993.90.
Other bids were from A.A. Berms, Belleville, at $325,287; Zuccaro Inc., Garfield at $392,445; DTS Trucking LLC, Hawthorne at $486,617.50; Your Way Construction Inc., Irvington, at $497,129.57; and S. Batata Construction, Parlin, at $534,870.
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla said the bids must still be reviewed by borough engineer Neglia Engineering to make sure they meet all bid specs, and that a bid award resolution was likely to be voted on at the April 11 council meeting.
The council tabled action in November, when the lowest bid received was nearly $400,000 over its initial budget. After updating specifications and removing the requested fencing, which had pushed up bid prices, the council rebid the project with bids due March 24.
Padilla told Pascack Press that the borough was still in line to receive a $175,000 state DOT grant for the Causeway beautification effort, which had its deadline extended until mid-May, following last year’s high bids which were rejected by council.
The Centennial Causeway traverses the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir (owned by Suez) and connects the east and west sides of the borough via Woodcliff Avenue.
Padilla said the borough had an “agreement in principle” with Suez Water to put a black chain link fence across the Causeway, which was why fencing was not included in current bid specs.
The borough had been actively negotiating with Suez on upgrading the fencing across the Causeway, as part of the beautification efforts.
Padilla said the council may yet decide to consider upgrades to the fencing to a “more decorative” fence to enhance the planned Causeway improvements.
Officials have vigorously debated whether the borough should spend funds to upgrade the Causeway’s fencing, stressing that the two-lane Causeway serves as a highly-visible, well-traveled crossing. It connects Broadway to Pascack Road, and features a busy railroad station on the span’s eastern side.
The Causeway Streetscape improvements will feature replaced sidewalk and curbing, tree pruning and tree replacements, and rejuvenating the walking path, said Padilla.
The project specs noted construction of three retaining walls, 970 square yards of integrally colored/stamped concrete sidewalk; 1,560 linear feet of Belgian block curbing, 15 ornamental deciduous trees, 28 deciduous shrubs, 13 perennial containers, 190 square yards of topsoil, hardwood mulch, fertilizing and seeding, and straw mulch.
Moreover, specs call for 2,000 linear feet of traffic marking lines, two 20-feet high flagpoles and one 25-feet high flagpole, plus three units of solar flag pole lighting, and up to $35,000 for police traffic control.
Padilla said that officials “ideally hope” to do bridge improvements during summer months when traffic is lighter across the span.
Traffic management during construction will be determined by local police in coordination with the contractor, he said.