With two major road projects already under its belt, Plainsboro will be embarking on the first part of its preventative maintenance pavement program this fall.##M:[more]##
Over the summer, improvements at the Plainsboro Road and Edgemere Avenue intersection as well as at the intersection of Scudders Mill and Dey roads have enabled those intersections to operate more smoothly, says Township Administrator Bob Sheehan. The $2.7 million project, 75 percent of which was funded by Middlesex County, began late last year and included a realignment of the intersection and additional lanes. A left turn lane was added eastbound on Scudders Mill Road, and a right turn lane was added southbound on Dey Road. New traffic signals were also installed to help accommodate traffic backups at the intersection and divert traffic away from Plainsboro Road. The project also entailed curbing, sodding, and sidewalk work.
Planned in coming months are three general projects, including the repaving and reconstruction of Plainsboro Road from the vicinity of the Dey Road and Edgemere Avenue intersection to Enterprise Drive. “That will include some new sidewalk installation as well, in continuation of our desire to make the village as walkable and pedestrian-friendly as we possibly can,” says Sheehan.
The next project will be the reconstruction of a large section of George Davidson Road. “There is a pretty decent stretch that is badly worn, and we are going to be reconstructing it,” Sheehan said. “That project is almost ready to go.” The road borders Cranbury, and Plainsboro has had an informal agreement with Cranbury for years, in which Plainsboro has taken care of George Davidson Road from Cranbury Neck to Plainsboro Road. On the other side of Cranbury Neck is John White Road, which has been Cranbury’s responsibility.
This fall, the first year of the township’s preventative maintenance program will begin with the pavement of Stults Drive, Cooks Corner, and half of Pond View Drive, Sheehan says. Plainsboro officials have been talking about designing this program for years, and were able to include the first part of the funding — $675,”000 — in this year’s budget.
“Plainsboro has grown up and aged a bit,” Sheehan says. “Roads that are now 20 to 25 years old are hitting the end of their useful life. We’re trying to proactively maintain and repave the roads.” “Paving is not inexpensive, but it beats the alternative, where we let roads go, and we have to reconstruct them,” he said. Reconstruction includes the relaying of the bed of the road, curb improvements, and other work. “Now that we’re facing some aging infrastructure in town, we’re trying to get ahead of it a bit so we can spend less now rather than more later.” Sheehan says that bids for the repaving projects have gone out and have been returned, and that work will be done this fall.
In the meantime, the Township Committee introduced a $1,”515,”000 bond ordinance for the resurfacing work on both George Davidson and Plainsboro roads during its meeting on October 7. A significant portion of the bond — $510,”000 — comes from grants the township has received for the work. After a down payment of $50,”000, the difference will be $954,”000. A public hearing is scheduled for November 12.
