The $599,645 grant-funded project will add nearly 2,950 feet of ADA-compliant sidewalks and crossing improvements, with work starting around June 17 and continuing in phases through August.
CHATHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ – Chatham Township is set to begin construction this week on a long-planned pedestrian safety project along Spring Street and Lafayette Avenue, with work expected to start on or about Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and continue in phases through August 31, 2026.
The project will install and upgrade sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps and related drainage features under a $599,645 Safe Routes to School grant, according to the township. The work is intended to close sidewalk gaps near local schools and provide designated walking and biking routes for students.
“We are thrilled to finally break ground on this critical infrastructure project,” said Mayor Jennifer Rowland. “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.”
The township said gaps in the pedestrian sidewalk system currently force some students to walk in the street or use worn grass paths. Officials said the project is intended to reduce potential pedestrian injury risks, encourage walking and biking, and reduce traffic congestion near schools.
Chatham Township originally expressed support for the Safe Routes to School program in 2014. After securing federal and state approvals and completing multiple rounds of bidding, the Township Committee adopted Resolution No. 2025-112 on April 22, 2025, awarding the construction contract to AA Berms, LLC.
The project includes approximately 2,950 linear feet of improvements along the two roadways. Work will include clearing, excavation and grading for new ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks, crosswalk striping, ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces, upgrades to existing sidewalks and resetting drainage inlets where necessary.
The work is scheduled in two phases.
Phase 1 will cover the northern side of Spring Street, from School Avenue to Lafayette Avenue. Construction is expected to begin on or about June 17, 2026, starting at School Avenue and continuing south toward Lafayette Avenue. The estimated completion date for that phase is July 3, 2026.
Phase 2 will move to the eastern side of Lafayette Avenue, from the Lafayette School driveway to Inwood Road. That work is expected to begin on or about July 6, 2026, progressing north from Fairview Avenue toward Inwood Road, with an estimated completion date of August 31, 2026.
Township officials said the schedule is subject to weather. Roads are expected to remain open during construction, though intermittent disruptions will occur.
Property owners in the project area are receiving notices from the contractor. The township asked residents to use caution around freshly poured concrete.
Mott MacDonald, the township engineer, will work with AA Berms throughout the project, according to the township.