County announces plans for new public works, sheriff’s department building

Photo Courtesy of Essex County
Area officials broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot facility for the Essex County Department of Public Works and Essex County Sheriff’s Department on Grove Avenue in Cedar Grove. The building will be used to house vehicles, store equipment and supplies, and provide up-to-date workspace for the DPW Traffic Division and Sign Shop.

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. announced plans to construct a 40,000-square-foot facility for the Essex County Department of Public Works and Essex County Sheriff’s Department on Grove Avenue in Cedar Grove. The building will be used to house vehicles, store equipment and supplies, and provide up-to-date workspace for the DPW Traffic Division and Sign Shop.

“We always are looking for ways to make operations run more efficiently and enhance our delivery of service. After we identified the need to create more indoor space to park vehicles and store equipment, the parking lot on Grove Avenue was the ideal location because it’s so close to the existing public works complex,” DiVincenzo said.

Members of the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, who attended the event, expressed their support for and pride in the project.

“With the leadership of the county executive, we have the reputation for coming through with excellent projects,” Commissioner Vice President Carlos Pomares said. 

Cedar Grove officials similarly praised the project.

“It was unanimously agreed upon when this was presented to the council two months ago that this will be a great addition to Cedar Grove,” Mayor Kerry Peterson said.

The parcel on Grove Avenue currently is a gravel paved lot that is used to park vehicles. It is located around the corner from the main public works complex on West Bradford Avenue and its close proximity is expected to complement current operations, provide additional storage space and help operations run more efficiently. With the new facility, vehicles and equipment that are currently stored outside will be moved indoors.

Comito and Associates from Newark received a professional services contract to design the facility. DMD Contracting from Wayne was awarded a publicly-bid contract for $11,250,000 to construct the building. The Essex County DPW will monitor the project to ensure delays are avoided. The project is being financed through the Essex County capital budget and the American Rescue Plan Act. The facility is scheduled to be completed in spring 2022.