Grove Street is a well-traveled road. It carries thousands of cars a day.
Grove Street is, unfortunately, also known for its potholes and uneven sidewalks.
About two weeks ago, Camden County started a two-month construction project on Grove Street to address this. Through a $2.5 million federal highway grant, Grove Street will be completely reconstructed, including new drainage, pedestrian improvements, concrete work and paving.
“This roadway carries thousands of vehicles a day through Haddonfield and Cherry Hill and was targeted for investment by the board,” Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said in a press release. “This two-month project represents our continued commitment to address our infrastructure needs and ensure Camden County keeps moving.”
Dan Keashen, director of public affairs for Camden County, said Grove Street is known as a wetlands area as it transverses over the Cooper River. Upgrades to those areas in regard to drainage, sidewalks and streets are needed.
As Grove Street is a well-travelled road by motorists, as well as much used for recreation by bicyclists and runners, the county sought improvements.
The improvements on Grove Street have been a year-long endeavor, as the borough and county worked to get the reconstruction project started. Earlier in July, Grove Street upgrades had been delayed as the county ran into some funding and contracting issues, according to Borough Commissioner John Moscatelli. However, the Grove Street reconstruction project was finalized when the county awarded the project to Lexa Concrete.
The contractor began the concrete work within the first block closest to Kings Highway. It will continue with concrete installation down one side of the street to Maple Avenue and then switch to the other side, moving back toward Kings Highway, according to the borough website.
“Because of the area it traverses, we want to be sure that we have a designated area where pedestrians can walk the street and have an insulated buffer from traffic,” Keashen said.
According to a release on Aug. 24, traffic is being detoured south on Wood Lane to Hawthorne Avenue. The northbound lane of Grove Street is open to traffic. Once all concrete work is completed, the contractor will begin road reconstruction for that section.
“The road will be milled and the entire street will be overlaid, so there will be no potholes on the street,” Keashen said.
This project will be ongoing, and motorists should be aware there will be intermittent closures and lane changes during construction. If possible, motorists should explore new routes for their daily commutes.
“We’ll never have a complete shut down, as there will be the rotation of closing one lane and making the other optional. We’ll always most likely have one lane open. However, there will be congestion and delays, so people should look for alternate routes if possible,” Keashen said.
The end of the project is dependent upon the weather and other factors. According to Keashen, the project will hopefully be squared away by the middle of the fall; he just asks for patience and alertness from residents and motorists.
“Ultimately, we want residents to be alert and have patience. They will have some inconveniences, but ultimately it will be a big improvement,” Keashen said.
