Hudson County, in conjunction with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), is conducting a study of the Manhattan Avenue retaining wall in Union City to identify how to improve its structural deficiencies and maintain the road, an important transportation connection for residents and commuters who travel to and from locations including Hoboken, Union City, the Lincoln Tunnel and Route 495.

The NJTPA has retained the services of French & Parrello Associates, an engineering firm, to complete this study. As part of this project, vegetation growing from the wall was removed to enable a thorough assessment and investigation of the wall. The investigations will include a Terrestrial Laser Scan, ground field survey and aerial mapping, as well as other non-destructive testing. A thorough inspection of the stone masonry wall and concrete wall will also be completed to identify and mark any observed deficiencies. The goal of this study is to understand the condition of the wall and develop a plan for improving any deficiencies.

Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) is the second phase of the Local Capital Project Delivery Process for transportation improvements. During this phase, the preliminary design will be developed based on the preliminary preferred alternative chosen to address the deteriorating conditions of the Manhattan Avenue retaining wall in the LCD Phase. This phase also includes cost estimation and environmental documentation. LPE will include coordination with County local officials and extensive public outreach.

For this study, the consultant team will be responsible for community outreach, data collection, developing the Purpose and Need Statement, developing conceptual alternatives, selecting a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA), determining the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) classification, and preparing numerous reports including the Concept Development Report (CDR). Throughout this process, the project must comply with FHWA and NJDOT requirements and regulations, including American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards and guidelines.