Jersey City is set to begin the revitalization of the “unsafe” Coles Street underpass, including adding a skate park.
The project, which stretches from 10th Street to 14th Street and Coles Street to Monmouth Street, is expected to make the dark underpass a safer public space. Along with a permanent skate park, the city will reconstruct the sidewalk, replace the street, and make utility upgrades and significant lighting improvements.
Mayor Steve Fulop and Infrastructure Director Barka Patel said the project will safely connect neighborhoods like Holland Gardens and Hamilton Park. City officials broke ground Thursday on the project, which is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year.
“We made this improvement project a priority to help safely connect neighborhoods near Holland Gardens, the Embankment House, and the other side of 12th Street near the Holland Tunnel entrance with a new raised bikeway, reconstructed sidewalks and crosswalks, utility upgrades, and various safety improvements,” Fulop said.
“We will also formalize the skatepark that currently exists and is widely used by the community in a way that maintains the DIY character of the space while improving safety and visibility for all users,” Patel said.
The improvements will establish a consecutive sidewalk the entire length of Coles Street. The bicycle and pedestrian improvements are in line with the city’s efforts to reduce car reliance and make the city more walkable. The work will also include picnic tables and a parking location for a food truck, according to the renderings.
In February, the city council approved a resolution to hire S. Batata Construction, Inc., for $3.8 million to work on some of the infrastructure improvements.
City spokesman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the cost will be split with the city’s Municipal Utilities Authority, which had already begun major infrastructure upgrades. She said the community advocated for the space to be utilized better.
The project has been in the works for nearly two years. Councilmen Yousef Saleh and James Solomon began discussing plans for the underpass, a “disaster — unsafe and unwalkable” area.
“The redevelopment of the Coles Street underpass is a critical step in building a more resilient, more open, and more pedestrian-friendly Jersey City,” Solomon said.
“We envision the Coles Street streetscape as more than just concrete and sidewalk; it’s a space that will be transformed for neighborhood residents to utilize, fostering community and furthering our shared commitment to a better, more connected Jersey City,” Saleh added.
