A major project to resurface roads and replace curbs throughout New Hyde Park that could ultimately cost $1.3 million got underway last week with removal of curbs along South 12th Street between Jericho Turnpike and 6th Avenue.
South 12th Street, which traverses the Long Island Rail Road tracks near the New Hyde Park train station, is one the busiest roadways in the village, according to Tom Gannon, superintendent of the village Department of Public Works.
Gannon said the project is under the direction of engineering firm Dvirka & Bartilucci, which selected the roads most in need of repair.
“In terms of economy, we are getting the best bang for the buck,” Gannon said.
The current repair work is the latest phase of a project underway over the past decade in New Hyde Park with the ultimate goal of resurfacing all the village roads.
The village’s ability to resurface alls its road is due to firms like Westbury-based Roadwork Ahead willing to put in a relatively low bid to land contracts in the current economy, Gannon said.
The New Hyde Village Board voted to accept the firm’s bid of $824,841.15 for the base project of planned road repairs at its June 26 meeting. The board also voted to accept a bid of $482,147.58 for additional work for a total project cost of $1,306,988.73. Dvirka & Bartilucci estimated the base project would cost approximately $1 million when the board voted to approve a contract of approximately $120,000 for the engineering firm to plan the project in March.
The extent of the roadwork depends on the actual costs of the project as it proceeds, Gannon said. The village board issues bonds to cover the cost of each succeeding phase of the work each year.
The roads on the “base project” include: 3rd Avenue from Covert Avenue to Wayne Avenue, 3rd Avenue from Wayne Avenue to Premier Boulevard, 1st Avenue from South 8th Street to Covert Ave, South 12th Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue, South 10th Street from 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue, South 11th Street from 6th Avenue to village line, South 12th Street from 3rd Avenue Boulevard to 4th Avenue, 10th Avenue from Premier Boulevard to village line, South 10th Street from 6th Avenue to South Village Line, Brooklyn Avenue from Hillside Boulevard to North 3rd Street, Brooklyn Avenue from North 3rd Street to North 2nd Street, and 5th Avenue from New Hyde Park Road to South 14th Street.
The add/alternative roads include: South 12th Street from 1st Avenue to Jericho Turnpike, South 12th Street from 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue, South 12th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue, and 6th Avenue from Premier Boulevard to West End.
Dvirka & Bartilucci has conducted road surveys as part of an ongoing road improvement project in the village since 2000, Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro said at the March meeting.
The firm did a summary in 2004, and were asked to redo a survey of all village roads in 2008. They rated the roads on a scale of A to F, with A needing the least improvement and F needing the most improvement.
“The streets are definitely in need of repair, both in terms of drainage and because they’re falling apart,” said Anthony Raguso, site inspection engineer for Dvirka & Bartilucci.
He said altering the grading of the roadway is a priority on 3rd Avenue, where water tends to form large pools during heavy rainfall.
Raguso said milling – removing the existing road surface to prepared the road bed for resurfacing – and laying down the new asphalt surfacing will be done “in one shot” in each location being repaired.
Gannon said the project will be completed sometime in November.
