The $10.1 million renovation of the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library is now expected to be completed in June, four years after work began and two years later than originally expected, according to a story in today’s Asbury Park Press.

The article reports on the reopening if the of the Route 35 facility two days ago, following a monthlong shutdown:

The closing was initially supposed to last two weeks, but delays occurred with Internet and telephone rewiring work and other tasks related to inspections, Eastern Branch Chief Librarian Janet Kranis said.

The current project started in spring 2004 and was supposed to be completed by June 1, 2006. The general construction contractor is Brockwell & Carrington of Wayne. Company officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

“There’s been a lot of finger-pointing on blame for the delays,” [Library System Director Ken] Sheinbaum said. “I guess we were a little at fault. There were times we wanted to stay open, and they had to work around us. But sometimes I say, “Gee whiz, I wish there were more people working on the construction.’ “

Only a handful of workers could be seen working in the library’s hard-hat section Tuesday. That section is off limits to patrons, Kranis said.

The original contract called for Brockwell & Carrington to complete the job for $6.71 million, but change orders have pushed the cost up 2 percent to $6.86 million.

The project calls for the addition of 8,370 square feet to the 21,475 SF facility. Sheinbaum tells the Press he believes the work to be completed in June, following another shutdown to install shelves that’s expected to take a week.

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