Cherry Hill Township has been awarded a $202,000 grant from the state of New Jersey that will fund the continued reconstruction and resurfacing of Old Orchard Road.
The grant, from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, is for Phase IV of Cherry Hill’s Old Orchard Reconstruction Project. Work will include a mill and overlay of the road surface, as well as isolated concrete and drainage improvements.
Phase I of the Old Orchard project, from Route 70 to Highgate Lane, was completed in November 2013. Phases II and III, from Highgate Lane to Thornhill Road, are expected to begin in the coming months, and slated for completion by the fall. To date, the state has awarded the township nearly $800,000 in grants for the project.
“Maintaining critical infrastructure such as roads is a top priority for my administration, and I am thrilled to know we will be able to continue our work on Old Orchard Road without the use of tax dollars,” Cahn said. “Projects such as this one are key to maintaining a high quality of life and to ensuring our neighborhoods stay vibrant and strong. On the heels of several harsh winters that have wrought havoc on local roads, it is critical that we utilize every resource available to keep our roads smooth and safe for travel.”
The Old Orchard project is in addition to the township’s annual Road Maintenance Program, which rates local roads to prioritize paving efforts in upcoming years. For Fiscal Year 2015, the township has allocated $3.4 million for road maintenance, with portions of about a dozen roads slated for a mill and overlay and spot replacement of curbs, sidewalks and driveway aprons.
Coupled with the township’s aggressive pothole-repair efforts, a $150,000 microsurfacing program, and isolated road repairs related to utility work across town, the Old Orchard project and the Road Maintenance Program represent the Cahn administration’s dedication to improving local roads as efficiently and effectively as possible.
“Through smart planning, the use of grants such as this one, and our multi-faceted approach to road maintenance, we can identify the areas most in need of immediate attention and prioritize where and how we apply the resources available to us each year,” Cahn said.
To learn more about the township’s road projects and priorities, visit the township website at www.CherryHill-NJ.com, or call the Department of Engineering (856) 424–3203. To report a pothole, click on the “report a pothole” link on the township website, or call public works at (856) 424–4422.
