CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A trip down Market Street in Camden is a bumpy one, with a patchwork of pothole repairs and different types of pavement. Walking isn’t much better — there’s confusion about where and when to cross the streets.
But County Commissioner Al Dyer says they have a plan: Federal and Market streets will get much-needed facelifts as part of a $10 million restoration project.
The goal is to make downtown more attractive and accessible and repave Market and Federal streets as two-way traffic streets rather than one-ways.
Related
“[We’ll have] better technology at the intersections with the timers and the buttons so people can cross,” said Dyer. “We’ll have ADA-accessible ramps at each intersection. And, I think this project will slow it down a bit and just improve this area.”
Bike lanes and more parking will also be added.
This plan was selected from 10 options after community input. Damon Pennington owns a few businesses in the area, including the Camden Arts Yard Beer Garden, and he can’t wait to see how the project will transform the downtown area.
“In any urban renewal, you need pedestrians to be walking up and down. Redo the roads and make them two ways — I think you will add so much visibility and foot traffic for people in the city,” he said. “If you really beautify your space and make it nice, people will come.”
Construction is still a ways off, as the county continues working on specific design elements and searching for contractors. Construction is likely to begin late this year or early 2023.
Related
