Nearly $3,000,000 in federal funding for crucial infrastructure improvements in Monmouth County cleared a major hurdle last week as the House Appropriations Committee approved projects championed by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) as part of a congressional transportation spending bill.
The federal dollars requested by Smith includes nearly $1 million for much-needed pedestrian safety improvements along Kings Highway in Middletown, the heart of one of the oldest settlements in New Jersey.
“Because Kings Highway was first laid out nearly 400 years ago, it is ill-equipped to handle today’s modern pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic,” said Smith. “These federal dollars will help create a safer and more complete sidewalk network for pedestrians accessing the Middletown Train Station, Middletown Village Elementary School, Town Hall, and the Middletown Public Library.”
“Kings Highway is the heart of one of the oldest historic districts in New Jersey and it desperately needs these improvements to become a safer, more walkable area for our community,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry. “This funding is crucial to modernize the road so residents and visitors alike can safely access important Township assets such as our new Town Hall and train station. The proposed historic street lighting will also help Kings Highway remain aesthetically true to its past.”
Smith said the project will take place on Kings Highway and four other streets surrounding the Middletown Train Station—a popular walking destination for commuters and travelers—and involves the reconstruction/repaving of Kings Highway from Highway 35 at the new Town Hall to New Monmouth Road.
The scope of the work to be performed also entails the excavation and remediation of deteriorated sidewalks, the creation of new sidewalks where none exist, and the installation of ADA-ramps, detectable warning surfaces, a modular concrete retaining wall and split-rail fencing where necessary.
Additional funds requested by Smith and approved by the Committee include $2 million for mitigating catastrophic flooding in the historic district of Eatontown near Wampum Lake, where runoff backs up into various properties—including most notably the Eatoncrest Apartment Homes—during high-intensity rainfall.
“Intense flooding near Wampum Lake endangers residents, causes significant damage to nearby apartments and vehicles, and creates serious difficulties for our brave first responders who cannot easily access flooded areas with ambulances and fire trucks,” said Smith. “This federal funding will go a long way to mitigate this dangerous and burdensome hazard and to reduce economic losses to Eatontown residents and the local economy.”
Passed by the House Appropriations Committee, the FY2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill containing the two projects is expected to be brought to the full House of Representatives in the next few weeks.
###
