Bridgewater officials say these roads will get $8 million improvement this year
BRIDGEWATER – The Township Council has taken the first step toward appropriating $8 million for this year's road improvement project.
By a 4-1 vote on Thursday, the Council introduced an ordinance to issue $7.6 million in bonds and $400,000 in capital improvement money to the fund the third year of a five-year $40 million plan to upgrade nearly half of Bridgewater's 630 roads. In the first two years of the plan, 124 roads have been improved.
Only Councilman Filipe Pedroso voted against introducing the ordinance, saying that though he likes the road improvement project, he did not think it was fiscally responsible to issue the bond without the township approving its 2023 budget first.
"I hope we can afford it," he said.
But other council members said they wanted to get an early start on the project so the township could receive more competitive bids for the work before other municipalities get started with their own road projects.
Councilman Tim Ring said that the township may not formally adopt a budget until mid-May.
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Once Somerset County releases the total amount of assessed property in the township this month, Ring explained, the township administration has 30 days to draft a budget before submitting it to the Council, which then has 30 days to review it.
That means introduction of the budget in mid-April with a final vote in May, he said.
Councilman Allen Kurdyla said "it's really important we honor our commitment" on the road program introduced by Mayor Matt Moench.
Council President Michael Kirsh said he was confident this year's budget could accommodate the bond.
"We are fortunate to be in good condition," he said.
But Pedroso said that though others were comfortable with going ahead with the bond, he was still hesitant.
"Without a budget I can't decide whether I'm doing the right thing for the Bridgewater taxpayer," he said.
The preliminary roads included in this year's project are Fulton Avenue, Hancock Avenue, Duval Street, Farmer Road, Juniper Lane, Birch drive, Evergreen Drive, Hillside Avenue, Orchard Street, Loft Drive and Eastbrook Road.
In January, Township Engineer Bill Burr told the Council that the township was "on track" to meet its goal in the five-year program.
As in past years, the projects will be bundled together in six regions of the township to save money, the engineer explained.
Burr emphasized that the list of road projects may change once cost estimates are made.
Burr said there was no time to waste in getting the engineering work started so the township can go out for bid and have the projects completed by the start of next winter.
The township developed the five-year plan after a survey of all the roads in the township, which ranked the roads in the best and worst shape.
Once the list of road projects is finalized, residents can find the full listing at www.OurBWRoads.com.
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.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Bridgewater officials say these roads will get $8M improvement
