Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

LITTLE SILVER: SIDEWALK PROJECT BEGINS

whatsgoingonhere-8410917little-silver-branch-sidewalk-092419-500x332-4394952Motorists have been encountering detours on Branch Avenue at the Little Silver-Red Bank border all week long. What’s Going On Here?

It’s the beginning of a sidewalk replacement and installation program that Little Silver officials hope will reshape the walkability of the suburban town over the next year and a half. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

little-silver-042219-prospect-ave-500x332-8204984The north end of rospect Avenue is next in line to get sidewalks. Below, markings on Branch Avenue. (Photos by Trish Russoniello and John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

little-silver-branch-curb-092119-220x165-8221193The detours marked the start of a construction project that will replace the 1.5-mile sidewalk on the western side of Branch Avenue from Madison Avenue to Sycamore Avenue.

The job, which is expected to be completed by the end of October, also calls for installing or replacing some 1,300 linear feet of curbing.

Monmouth County, which owns the road but does not pay for curbs and sidewalks, plans to repave Branch from Rumson Road to the train station, officials said.

S. Batata Construction of South River won the sidewalk contract in August with a $379,283 bid, the lowest of four, with the next-lowest at $404,400, according to borough records.

The Branch Avenue project was financed by a loan from the New Jersey Transportation Infrastructure Bank, a state government program that provides low-interest loans to municipalities. Towns pay interest on only half the principal amount borrowed.

The project is the first phase of an extensive, $2.8-million sidewalk repair and installation effort that’s expected to continue over the next 18 months or so and affect nearly every major road in town, borough Administrator and Clerk Kim Jungfer told redbankgreen.

“It’s part of a conscious effort by the mayor and council to improve walkability and safety to all three schools and the train station,” said Jungfer, referring to Little Silver Point Road School, Markham Place School and Red Bank Regional High.

Assuming approval of a second loan application now pending with NJIB that would fund all subsequent sidewalk work, the next street on the makeover list is Prospect Avenue, between Laurelwood Drive and Harding Road, said Jungfer. Work there could begin early next spring, she said.

Mayor Bob Neff noted that the northern stretch of Prospect has no sidewalks, though it serves as a primary connector to RBR.

“To see somebody out there pushing a stroller, or walking a dog, all you have to do is see that once and you know safety has to trump everything,” he said.

Neff said that, as it did with the Branch Avenue project, the borough will send out letters to property owners affected in advance of each stage of the project “so nobody is surprised” by the work.

The borough is working with homeowners to preserve newly installed driveways and aprons and address other considerations, he said.

Also in line for sidewalk installation and/or replacement over the coming 18 months are:

• Kings Road, south side, from Prospect to Seven Bridges Road.

• Silverside Avenue, south side, from Seven Bridges Road to the train tracks.

•  Conover Place and the western portion of Eastview Avenue approaching the train station.

• Seven Bridges Road from Silverside Avenue to Rumson Road.

• Little Silver Point Road from Willow Avenue to Seven Bridges Road.

• Rumson Road from Branch Avenue to Hance Road.

• Harding Road from Prospect Avenue to Rumson Road.

• Pinckney Road from Branch Avenue to Garden Road.

Jungfer said the work will be scheduled in stages to minimize adverse traffic impacts.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RED TRUCKS AT RED ROCK
A small dishwasher fire at Red Rock Tap and Grill was put out quickly by firefighters overnight, causing minimal damage. Red Bank Fire Depar ...
CREATIVE COVER UP
The windows of Pearl Street Consignment on Monmouth Street were smashed when a driver crashed their car through them injuring an employee la ...
THEY’RE BACK!
Ospreys returned to the skies over Red Bank this week for the first time since they migrated to warmer climes in late fall. With temperature ...
SPRING IS SPRUNG
RED BANK: Spring 2024 arrives on the Greater Red Bank Green with the vernal equinox at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday.
RED BANK’S FINEST – AND NEWEST
Red Bank Police Officer Eliot Ramos was sworn in as the force’s newest patrolman Thursday, and if you’re doing a double take thinkin ...
EASTER EGG MAYHEM AT THE PARK
An errant whistle spurred an unexpectedly early start to the Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, which had been scheduled to begin at eggsactly 11am ...
PRESEASON DOCKWORK
RED BANK: With winter winding down, marina gets ready for boating season with some dockwork on our beautiful Navesink River.
CORNED BEEF AND DISCO FRIES?
It’s Friday, and smart Lent-observing Leprechauns know the pot of gold at the end of Red Bank’s rainbow is actually the deliciou ...
SURFBOARD DITCHED
It’s a violation of etiquette in surfing to ditch your board.  (it could hit another surfer and hurt them). But someone appears to ha ...
ELSIE, TAKE ME WITH YOU!
Soaked by pouring rain with the temperature hovering in the low 40’s, this sign in the window of Elsie’s Subs on Monmouth Street ...
WALK THIS WAY
PARTYLINE: Before-and-afters of a sidewalk cleanup on West Street.
SOGGY NOTION
RED BANK: Breezeway sculpture captured the mood downtown as heavy rains fell Saturday morning.
HOME DELIVERY
RED BANK: After a subdivision, an instant house rises on a new Catherine Street lot.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
For Black History Month, Red Bank's Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee has been running a series of local profiles on Facebo ...
HEARTY FAREWELL FOR HARDY
RED BANK: Council to honor DPU supervisor Rich Hardy, who retired recently after almost 39 years of keeping things running.
HOMEBOUND? READ ON…
RED BANK: Can't get to the public library? It's now offering free delivery and pickups for homebound borough residents.
TAMING A BEAST OF A WEEK
RED BANK: After the second snowfall of the week, a borough family finds the perfect use for it – a Godzilla snow sculpture.
RED BANK: LIBRARY CLOSED, BUT THE HILL’S OPEN
RED BANK: Though the library was closed by a snowstorm, kids got to enjoy the riverfront property's steep slope Tuesday.
LIGHT(HOUSE) MAKEOVER
This year, getting ready for spring means a midwinter makeover for Strollo's Lighthouse in Red Bank.
TODAY: LOCAL PUPPY COMPETES ON ANIMAL PLANET’S “PUPPY BOWL”
Red Bank’s very own rescue puppy, Biscuit, is set to compete in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl this Sunday, February 11, at 2 PM. Th ...