Township continues to tackle road maintenance based off 10-year plan
In the wake of the 2018 municipal budget, the committee is organizing funds for township projects.
At the July meeting, the committee focused heavily on several bond ordinances that set aside money for township vehicles, road projects, sewer utilities and township buildings and grounds.
Voorhees Township Administrator Lawrence Spellman explained that last year the township took control of the fire district and has steadily been supplying the department with new equipment. A combined $315,200 is going toward a new ambulance to accompany one purchased last year. Those funds are also designated for related purchases. Spellman said there is a plan to purchase an additional ambulance next year.
When it comes to purchases of this caliber, Spellman said, “They are all brand new. We are usually the municipality others buy equipment from.”
Additional vehicle purchases include trash, dump and recycling trucks. These purchases, along with related equipment, total $975,700 with an expected usage period of 15 years.
The road program is something receiving much attention from the township, with multiple projects taking place now and in the near future.
Ten years ago, township engineers conducted an analysis of every road in the township.
“They put the roads into categories of good, fair, poor. And then we systematically went after the worst ones,” Spellman said.
Because of unpredictability, the list was revisited multiple times, including a heavy re-inspection four years ago. Spellman explained this system of road maintenance is more efficient than “knee-jerk” maintenance — going from road to road at random.
The township has completed work on roads categorized as poor and is working on the fair list. Some roads the township is looking to conduct maintenance on this year include Middlesex, Jacamar, Turaco, Warbler, Cormorant, Osprey, Iron Gate, Elliot, Gettysburg, Lotus, Cumberland, Olympic and Lassen Court. Most projects concern stretches of road about 100 feet in length.
The third phase of construction to Echelon Road is set to take place this year. All three phases combined cost a just north of $1 million, said Spellman.
In addition to road work, a traffic light will be erected at the intersection of Echelon Road and Town Center Boulevard.
The NJ DOT’s annual municipal aid grant offered the township $515,000 for this project.
The township set aside a total of $1,416,450 for road projects.
In the way of recreation, Spellman said, “Each year we do something to improve the parks. Our big thing this year for our parks is Connelly Park.”
The township will be replacing the existing gazebo with a larger structure in the coming months.
For this project and more, the township has set aside $94,000.
The sewer system is also receiving an upgrade costing more than $700,000. Funds for renovations to various township buildings have been allotted, including the Fire Department, Police Building, and Municipal Building, totaling $434,600.
