Mayor Santos and Representatives of the KUEZ and KMUA Announce the Completion of the South Kearny Jacobus Avenue Improvement Project

News Date: 
12/15/2011

             
       Mayor Alberto G. Santos is pleased to announce the completion of the Jacobus Avenue road improvement project. This complex project was a joint effort funded by the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone and the Kearny Municipal Utility Authority (KMUA). The project included replacement of water lines, sewer lines and repaving of Jacobus Avenue at a total cost of more than $4.5 million.  As Mayor Santos explained, “This project has been discussed since before I was elected to the Council 13 years ago; it is very gratifying to finally see it come off the drawing board and actually come to completion. Although Jacobus Avenue may not be familiar to Kearny residents, it is a critical roadway located in the South Kearny industrial peninsula below the Pulaski Skyway. The roadway is heavily used by the many warehousing and transportation- related businesses in South Kearny.” 

The design and coordination of the different phases of the project and addressing environmental concerns presented many challenges.  Hatch Mott MacDonald, the KMUA engineering firm, designed and managed the sewer replacement portion of the project and Neglia Engineering Associates designed and oversaw the paving phase.  The project was completed as a result of the coordination and cooperation between all the entities involved. The cost of the project was funded through the Kearny UEZ’s Zone Assistance Fund and from the KMUA’s capital funds.

              Business owners and employees who use this road on a daily basis are extremely satisfied with the new and improved Jacobus Avenue.  Mayor Santos explained, “The businesses in South Kearny are critical to the creation of jobs and the generation of tax revenue in the Town of Kearny. Infrastructure improvements such as this project make the area more attractive to new businesses. When the town is able to make major improvements in South Kearny without using property tax dollars it is a winning outcome for everyone.”  

 

From left to right:  Alan M. Lambiase (River Terminal Development Co.), L. Ceren Aralp (Hatch Mott MacDonald/KMUA Engineer), Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle, John J. Scheri (Hatch Mott MacDonald/KMUA Engineer), Mayor Alberto G. Santos, Michael F. Berliner (Neglia Engineering/Town of Kearny), Gregg F. Paster (Kearny UEZ and KMUA legal counsel) and Jason Menzella (Neglia Engineering/Town of Kearny).

From left to right:  L. Ceren Aralp (Hatch Mott MacDonald/KMUA Engineer), Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle, John J. Scheri (Hatch Mott MacDonald/KMUA Engineer), Jason Menzella (Neglia Engineering/Town of Kearny), Michael F. Berliner (Neglia Engineering/Town of Kearny), Gregg F. Paster (Kearny UEZ and KMUA legal counsel), Mayor Alberto G. Santos and John Peneda (Kearny UEZ Director).