Verizon Overpass Work Planned on N. Maple Ave.

The Verizon Co. plans a major overhaul of its overpass crossing North Maple Avenue near Interstate 287 some time this year, and already has gained  approval to extend work hours to complete the job more quickly.

Lee Gierczynski, a media relations manager for Verizon, on Thursday said the company will request additional permission for overnight work hours for a proposed project to strip off and replace the asphalt after repairing the bridge deck.

Gierczynski said that no definite date has been set yet for when work would begin on the company's overpass, which crosses North Maple Avenue between Dolce and Verizon headquarters at 1 Verizon Way.

"We haven't finalized the plan," he said on Thursday. But Verizon is anticipating the project would be started, and finished, some time this year, he said.

North Maple Avenue would remain open at all times during construction, unless the township grants a further request for overnight work, he said. In that case, one lane might be closed overnight on a temporary basis, said Gierczynski and Greg Johnson, an engineering consultant who approached the Township Committee on Tuesday.

"We would like overnight hours," Gierczynski affirmed on Thursday. "That would help speed completion of the project," perhaps reducing the time frame down from months to weeks, he said. But he said Verizon will work within whatever time frame is allowed by the township.

Johnson, an engineering consultant for Verizon, already approached the Township Committee on Tuesday with a request for a waiver from the municipal noise ordinance so work could continue after daylight hours.

The Township Committee granted permission for an extended work schedule of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for Sunday. At Mayor Mary Pavlini's suggestion, work cannot start until 10 a.m. that day.

Although officials said they do not believe there are many residences nearby — with the closest about 750 away — the Verizon representatives also were asked to notify residents living within 1,000 feet when work would begin.

The committee also granted a request by Police Chief Brian Bobowicz to suspend the work if at any time it is determined that the construction creates a safety hazard or causes excessive noise.

Johnson said Verizon would seek a variance for overnight hours, but neither he nor Gierczynski specified how the request would be made before the township.

Not including a possible closure of one lane during some overnight construction, "There will be virtually no impact on traffic," Johnson told the Township Committee.

Gierczynski said on Thursday that the concrete on the bridge deck is starting to deteriorate.