By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Although it is a one-way street that has a posted speed limit of only 15 mph, Pleasure Avenue is incredibly busy at times.
Cars, trucks, bicyclists, walkers and joggers all share this popular strip of asphalt that runs along the beachfront and serves as the location for some of Sea Isle City’s most luxurious homes.
Now, construction crews are out on Pleasure Avenue, too. They are taking over three or four blocks at a time while the road and sidewalks are being reconstructed as part of a $643,000 project stretching from 53rd to 73rd streets.
Hoping to avoid any conflicts between the construction crews and Pleasure Avenue’s usual activity, police are urging motorists, bikers and walkers to proceed with caution and to pay strict attention to the “Road Closed,” Sidewalk Closed” and “Detour” signs dotting the road.
“It’s give-and-take on everyone’s part,” Police Chief Tom McQuillen said. “The more we can work in concert with each other, the quicker we can get done.”
McQuillen noted that if bikers or pedestrians ignore the warning signs and enter the active construction zones along Pleasure Avenue, the contractor may have to stop work for safety reasons.
“Every time the workers have to stop and address somebody, it causes delays,” he said. “We certainly want them to abide by the signs and help us out and help the workers out with their jobs.”
Construction began last week and is expected to be completed within a month, police Lt. William Mammele said.
Mammele pointed out that the contractor, Arawak Paving Co. of Hammonton, has “blanketed” Pleasure Avenue with warning signs to try to keep everyone safe.
The part of Pleasure Avenue that is being reconstructed will stretch a little more than a mile. Mammele explained that the contractor plans to shut down no more than three or four blocks at a time to minimize disruptions to motorists, bikers and pedestrians and to maintain access to nearby homes.
Pleasure Avenue’s reconstruction is one in a series of road projects Sea Isle is planning to do during the normally quieter off-season months.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio told City Council at its Sept. 22 meeting that a half dozen projects will get underway this fall and “many more” are in the planning and design stage.
“We’ve gone through a spring and summer of the COVID pandemic, but our continuing program to maintain and improve our public assets and infrastructure has not missed a beat,” Desiderio said.
For the latest road project, Council has approved a $557,140 contract for reconstruction of the following streets:
- 48th Street between Central and Landis avenues.
- 57th Street between Central and Landis.
- 58th Street from Landis to the beach end.
- 74th Street between Central and Landis.
- 82nd Street between Central and Landis.
The road work follows up on water and sewer improvements previously completed on the same streets.
With all of the construction work going on, McQuillen stressed that one thing is paramount: “All we’re trying to do is keep everyone safe,” he said.
