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Politics & Government

Residents Ask For Sidewalks on Route 202 in Morris Plains

Frank Mangravite and Dan Kantor made request at council meeting.

At the borough council meeting on April 21 in Morris Plains, when the public was given a chance to speak, Democratic council candidate Frank Mangravite and his campaign manager, Dan Kantor, brought up an issue that Mangravite and the council had previously discussed at the April 7 borough council meeting.

, Mangravite suggested that, for reasons of safety and beautification, a stretch of Route 202 between Shop Rite and Briarcliff Rd. should have a sidewalk. 

Druetzler had responded that applications had been made for grants to add a stretch of sidewalk to that location, but that they were not rewarded to the borough. Exact estimates were not available at that time, but at the April 21 meeting town engineer Leon Hall came prepared with numbers and an opinion of the feasibility of the proposed project.

Hall estimated that to put a sidewalk on the stretch of road would cost, because of an incline that would require a retaining wall, $220,000 for approximately 1400 feet. Hall stated after the meeting that typically a sidewalk would cost $25 per foot, or a $35,000 dollar cost if no retaining wall was needed.

Because of the incline, potential issues with driveways at homes that would be affected, and costs, Hall said that he was not sure that such a project was feasible.

Mangravite then asked the council how much the borough is borrowing this year for roads and sidewalks. Druetzler estimated approximately $600,000, which, according to the mayor, is a similar figure to how much was borrowed last year.

For both Mangravite and Druetzler, the issue came down to priorities. Mangravite stated that this is an area of great need in his view.

“That’s a noble goal to do those things,” said Druetzler. “You always have to weigh everything…no government entity can do everything that needs to be done in the world.”

Mangravite noted that other projects are done as a precautionary safety measure, and said that his idea for the stretch of Route 202 would also increase safety.

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