MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Police Department has contacted New Jersey American Water to clarify the schedule of work for the Valley Street project, according to a recent release from the department. Barring any unforeseen emergencies, the plan for the Valley Street Project is as follows:
The primary work on Valley Street, which has required extensive road closures from Baker Street to Millburn Avenue is scheduled to be concluded on Sept. 3. Except for brief periodic finishing work, including backfilling holes and water testing, all traffic will be allowed to flow on Valley Street after Sept. 3 between Baker Street and Millburn Avenue. No further long-term detours are anticipated after Sept. 3 for this current project.
Periodic short-term finishing roadwork will continue in the area of Valley Street from Sept. 5 through 9, approximately. This work is expected to be conducted between 9a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to minimize disruption to school traffic. Once the water has been tested and determined to be clean, the temporary water piping will be removed. This removal should have minimal impact to traffic and will not normally require a road closure. Work will continue on Millburn Avenue in Millburn for approximately one more month and some work will take place in the future on Pierson Road. No work will take place on Harvard Avenue near Tuscan School as the valve at Valley and Harvard has been replaced already.
If any major work needs to be done where Valley Street will need to be detoured, this will be done on a Saturday when commuters and school will not be effected — unless an emergency repair situation arises. The contractor will hire officers for traffic control as needed for any additional work for the remainder of the project in an effort to maximize safety and minimize traffic disruption.
With regard to the impact to traffic at Tuscan School, parents are still encouraged to use caution, obey the law and, whenever possible, minimize driving in the area of Tuscan School. Maplewood police will provide police patrols in the area of Tuscan School on the first day of school, and periodically thereafter to assist with traffic flow and enforcement. Nixle traffic advisory messages will be used until the conclusion of the project to provide daily updates to the public.