“One thing that we can all agree on is that the Cameron Street rehabilitation project did not go according to plan.” Ralph Lance said.
The retired banker and Beachburg resident, who lived on Cameron street, spoke about the construction last summer at the council meeting in a presentation criticizing the construction for unsafe practices and disruption of the entire area.
He asked “what kind of savings is the township going to endure because the construction was delayed?”
He also asked if there were any penalties for H&H, the tendered construction company, due to the delays.
He said that the amount of dust kicked up by the work was so high “You could not see across the street on occasion.”
He also criticized the “lack of safety of H&H drivers”, and he made a video of a backhoe driving“in excess of the speed limit” down the road.
He even said he saw a driver “on his cellphone and eating a slice of pizza.”
“I looked at my neighbor and said ‘did you just see what I saw?” Lance said.
Cameron Street is the only access to the neighborhood, as well as Vera Crescent and Earl Street, both of which were also part of the construction.
Beachburg’s public school and library are also located there.
“Can we expect the same thing this coming summer?” Lance said. “I hope not. I hope not.”
Councillor Moore said “I think that on the side of safety, staff should have more of an investigation.”
Mayor Nicholson said there was an agenda item about this coming in the meeting.
Chris Olmstead said that” it really is a delicate balancing act.” regarding construction delays, and said he heard complaints of excessive water and mud from the construction.
