Construction Underway On Chatham's Safe Routes To School Safety Project

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham Township's construction on its Safe Routes to School pedestrian safety project along Lafayette Avenue and Spring Street is underway.

The long-planned project aims to improve safety for students walking and biking to school.

Township officials said the project will address gaps in the existing sidewalk network that currently require some students to walk in roadways or along other paths.

The improvements are intended to provide safer pedestrian access and help reduce traffic congestion near schools.

“We are thrilled to finally break ground on this critical infrastructure project,” Mayor Jennifer Rowland said. “Ensuring our children have a safe, designated path to walk and bike to school has been a long-standing priority for the Township Committee. We are grateful to our residents for their continued patience as we navigated the complex federal and state grant processes to bring this vision to life.”

Project Scope

• 2,950 linear feet of pedestrian and transportation improvements along Spring Street and Lafayette Avenue
• Construction of new ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks
• New crosswalk striping
• Upgrades to existing sidewalks
• Installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces
• Resetting of drainage inlets where necessary
• Clearing, excavation, and grading required for construction
• Contractor AA Berms, LLC is required to complete the project within 180 working

Construction Schedule

Phase 1: Spring Street

• Northern side of Spring Street from School Avenue to Lafayette Avenue
• Construction timeline: June 17 to July 3
• Work will begin at School Avenue and progress toward Lafayette Avenue

Phase 2: Lafayette Avenue

• Eastern side of Lafayette Avenue from the Lafayette School driveway to Inwood Road
• Construction timeline: July 6 to August 31
• Work will progress north from Fairview Avenue toward Inwood Road.