Residents living around 9th and Madison Streets have recently reported they are being disturbed by construction that runs through the night. The work, which begins at 8 PM and continues until 6 AM, is being completed under an emergency noise exemption connected to a flood-mitigation project that had previously been delayed.
A Nixle alert on Friday, November 7th, first notified the public of new overnight activity and traffic detours, and by November 11th, 2025, City spokesperson Marilyn Baer confirmed the project was still moving toward completion next month.
- Overnight construction is underway between 8 PM and 6 AM at 9th and Madison Streets under an emergency noise exemption, prompting complaints from nearby residents.
- The North Hudson Sewerage Authority and the City say the project should be finished next month and by the end of the year, after delays involving utility conflicts, weather, and supply timelines.
- Hoboken continues to confront larger flooding issues, including multiple long-term road closures this year and the failure of two floodgates during the October 30th, 2025 storm.
Noise Rules and City Response
Hoboken’s noise code, HOBOKEN, N.J., MUNIC. CODE §133-9(C) (2017) normally prohibits construction or demolition from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekdays and entirely on weekends and federal holidays unless the work qualifies as emergency activity. Equipment that can be heard beyond a property line—such as cranes, jackhammers, pile drivers, saws, compressors, and similar machinery—may not operate before 8:00 a.m., and after-hours construction must be approved alongside a noise-mitigation plan.
Despite these rules, Baer stated that the City and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) have spent recent months raising roadway elevations and installing larger sewers and catch basins to better manage flooding. Work in the same area also includes replacing water mains and nearby service lines to reduce the risk of water-main failures. Baer added that residents can find weekly updates at hobokennj.gov/construction, and NHSA posts weekly notices outlining traffic and work impacts.
Questions have been raised about why this phase of construction qualifies as emergency work if it had been planned earlier. The City has been asked to clarify whether it applies a specific standard when granting emergency work approvals. A response has not yet been received. The Hoboken Girl also contacted City Council member Dr. Mike Russo, who represents the 3rd Ward, and is awaiting comment.
Project Background and Flooding Issues
In late October, City spokesperson Marci Rubin explained that the NHSA Madison Street Area Infrastructure Improvement Project is intended to upgrade part of Madison Street by replacing aging inlets, sewers, and water lines by lifting roadways, curbs, and sidewalks. She also noted that related improvements extend to Ninth and 11th Streets between Madison and Monroe Streets.
NHSA had previously stated that the project was delayed during the summer because of unexpected underground utility conflicts, weather-related setbacks, and longer-than-anticipated utility lead times. The Authority now expects the project to be completed by the end of the year, and residents can request more detailed information directly from NHSA.
Flooding remains a familiar challenge for Hoboken. Despite large investments from both the City and the state of New Jersey—most visibly in the form of floodgates and resiliency parks—residents continue to face disruptions. This year, Garden Street and 15th Street were closed for four months, the Jersey Avenue entrance to the city was shut down for several months, and the 9th and Madison area is now under extended mitigation work.
Complicating matters, after a storm on October 30th, 2025, the City reported that two floodgates did not operate. The initial explanation pointed to failed batteries, while follow-up messages from both the City and the Hoboken Police Department urged residents not to handle or move floodgates or barricades. The Office of Emergency Management and the City said that these devices must remain in their assigned locations for safety and property protection.
Additional Work Underway on 15th Street
At the same time, the City is advancing the 15th Street Roadway Improvement Project, which extends from Madison Street to Adams Street and Willow Avenue to Park Avenue. The project includes Vision Zero upgrades and resiliency improvements, such as new curbs and sidewalks, a raised bike lane, street trees, decorative lighting, and striping. It also involves milling, overlay, and re-striping of 15th Street between Willow and Park.
This phase is included in a project designed to raise portions of northern Hoboken to limit nuisance flooding. Phase One, which began June 16, is expected to finish in mid-November and focuses on Madison Street to Adams Street. Phase Two, covering resurfacing from Willow Avenue to Park Avenue, is planned to begin later this year.
