The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) began a sidewalk and curbing project on Nassau Street, stretching from Bayard Lane to Snowden Lane this past Monday. The project will include the installation of new curbing and sidewalk on both the north and south side of Nassau. Once the curbing and sidewalk portion of the project is completed on the south side, crews will work back toward Bayard Lane on the north side, with construction taking place from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. The sidewalk and curb project, estimated to take about six weeks, will result in some parking restrictions. DOT will also conduct a road repaving and milling project, set to start May 10, with crews working between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. That project, set to take about one week for completion, is not expected to cause significant delays.
Nearly 400 students at Community Park Elementary School were evacuated last Friday after a construction crew accidentally ruptured an underground natural gas pipe, police and school officials said. Police and firefighters also evacuated people from several nearby businesses on Witherspoon Street, a portion of which was closed. The incident began about 8:45 a.m. when a backhoe operator digging a trench at Guyot Avenue and Witherspoon Street severed the two-inch natural gas line, police said. The trench was being dug as part of road construction and resurfacing work taking place at the intersection. Police reported that the gas flow was turned off by PSE&G by 9:24 a.m. After firefighters declared it safe, the children were allowed to return by 9:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.