The municipality of Princeton has issued an update regarding work at the hospital site on Witherspoon Street. While no demolition work has been authorized because the developer of the site, AvalonBay, has not signed the developer’s agreement, certain pre-demolition work is taking place.

Currently, the Yannuzzi Corporation is removing from the inside of hospital buildings various items that are being prepared for recycling or disposal, including carpeting, non-asbestos ceiling tiles, lighting fixtures, non-asbestos pipe coverings, copper water piping, electrical wiring, and office partitions. This work is anticipated to continue for two to three weeks.

Eisco Environmental is removing the underground fuel storage tanks and anticipates the work to be completed within the next two weeks. To date, no petroleum contamination has been found.

Yannuzzi Corporation has been preparing and constructing containment areas providing for the removal of asbestos from the inside of the hospital buildings. The actual removal of asbestos by double bagging and storing the material in a secure storage area in the hospital started Monday. As the work proceeds, that bagged material will be loaded into special sealed containers and transported offsite for proper disposal. This work is anticipated to continue for approximately 12 weeks.

The site is being monitored on a regular basis by representatives of Whitman Environmental, and the town’s Engineering and Health departments. In addition, representatives of the Department of Labor have visited the site. “Workers have been found to be qualified and properly certified for the work that they are performing and have been observed to follow proper safety protocols,” reads a statement from the municipality. Anyone with questions can contact the Engineering department at (609) 921-7077 or cceballos@princetonnj.gov.