Bridgewater provides update on 'the largest road project ever undertaken'

BRIDGEWATER – Despite the destruction and havoc brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September, the township was able to complete work on all but two projects in its $8 million road improvement program in 2021.

Township engineer Bill Burr told the Township Council on Thursday that there were "a lot of great successes" last year in the township's 5-year, $40 million program to upgrade nearly 200 of Bridgewater's 630 roads.

"We've made substantial progress," Burr said. "We still have more work to do."

The township has launched a website, OurBWRoads.com, that is a hub for residents to keep track of current and future road projects and see how the condition of their road was rated

Using a neighborhood approach and the results of a survey of all roads, the township was able to tackle "the largest road project ever undertaken," Burr said.

In all, the township reconstructed 40 roads in 2021, plus applied protective sealing on 22 more. Almost 25 miles of roads were improved, Burr said.

In 2020, 25 roads were reconstructed.

"I really am proud of the work we accomplished," he said.

READ: Bridgewater will assess drainage after Ida's 'unimaginable devastation'

READ: Bridgewater mental health policing program off to promising start

Only two projects – Mark Drive and Muirfield Lane – were not completed, but the work will be done as weather allows, the engineer said.

The survey of roads in August 2020 found five roads most in need of repairs. That number has been reduced to on, he said.

The survey also found 46 roads in need of serious repairs and that number has been reduced to 204.

And the number of roads in excellent condition has almost doubled, from 67 to 128, he said.

"We have to keep chiseling away at this," Burr said.

By dividing Bridgewater into six neighborhoods, Burr explained, the township was able to save money by bundling more roads into fewer projects.

The road projects were done despite the delays brought by the September flooding.

"Ida hit us hard," Burr said.

A main sewer line ruptured along the Middle Brook by Route 22, retaining walls supporting Vosseller Avenue were breeched, drainage channels were blocked with debris and roads in 22 spots were damaged, he said.

The state Department of Transportation is still working on reopening the ramp from Chimney Rock Road to eastbound Route 22, he said.

The township is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be reimbursed for the emergency repairs.

Burr urged the Township Council to get the funding in place for this year's road projects. He said a draft list of which roads would be included would be ready by the end of January.

"Every day counts," he said.

Mayor Matt Moench congratulated Burr and Director of Municipal Services Tom Genova for doing "phenomenal work."

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Bridgewater NJ updates on 'the largest road project ever undertaken'