After the first phase of the Walks Water Main Replacement Project was completed last spring, the City of Long Beach will move forward with phase two as it looks to upgrade utility services in the Walks neighborhood.
Phase two, approved unanimously at the July 7 City Council meeting, will again be undertaken by Farmingdale-based Thomas Novelli Contracting and Woodbury-based D&B Engineers and Architects. The $5.7 million initiative is scheduled to begin Labor Day weekend and wrap up by next Memorial Day weekend, according to city officials.
Originally conceived in 2018, the project was developed to address aging infrastructure and safety concerns created by narrow easements between the water lines and sewer lines in the Walks, which also complicated access for utility crews. The work will cover the area of the Walks between Grand and Lindell boulevards, from West Park Avenue to West Beech Street.
“The water mains under the Walks run parallel and in close proximity to the sewer mains, creating less than ideal infrastructure,” City Manager Dan Creighton said.
During phase two, crews will install more than 6,300 feet of new water mains, along with new gas mains, whose length has not yet been determined. The project also includes electrical upgrades, with colonial-style lighting and decorative pavers designed to reduce water ponding throughout the neighborhood.
City officials said they were pleased that Novelli was leading the project, highlighting residents’ positive feedback during the first phase. “I was very happy that Novelli won this bid for the second phase,” Councilman Mike Reinhart said. “From all reports, [the work] has been very positive. They’ve been responsive to the public and active with communications.”
Not all residents agree, however.
Daniel Lamparter, who lives on May Walk, criticized the contractor’s work in phase one, saying that workers left tools on his hydrangea bushes, cut pavers on his cobblestones instead of using a table at the end of the walk, and dug a hole in his lawn.
“One thing that was suggested was if they could launch from the mall rather than the parking lot on Park Avenue, where the south side is resident parking and the north side is public parking,” Lamparter said. “They launched from both. They left their equipment all over the place—Bobcats were left on the streets all weekend. And in terms of respect for the neighbors, they have none.”
Lamparter acknowledged the challenges of working in the Walks’ narrow corridors, but said he hoped the city would consider another contractor for future phases.
Other residents offered a different perspective. Mike DeLury, president of the Westholme Civic Association, said that Novelli kept residents informed throughout the first phase, and credited the newly installed pavers for helping to reduce standing water. He encouraged disgruntled residents to raise their concerns with the civic association so they can be shared with city officials.
“We are happy to see that Thomas Novelli has been awarded the phase two section of the walks water upgrade,” DeLury said. “Novelli and his crew did an excellent job in phase one, and their experience in working on phase one will help in their scheduling and planning of phase two.”
As in the first phase, homes will be connected to either newly installed water mains beneath the walkways or existing street mains. New water service connections will be installed at or near the rear of each property, along with individual shutoff valves for easier access. Officials said that any private property disturbed during construction will be restored to its original condition, and crews will provide property-specific information about their construction schedule.
The project is expected to be completed in four phases. Officials said that the remaining phases and the final schedule will be announced later. Residents with questions can contact the Department of Public Works at (516) 431-1011.