Manalapan: Mayor Michelle Roth updates on the Woodward Road Project

Road work is now estimated to be completed by the end of July

Mayor Michelle Roth provided an update at the Feb. 13 Township Committee meeting regarding the ongoing improvements to Woodward Road. According to Roth, because of recent favorable weather conditions the project is currently ahead of schedule.

Officials had stated in recent weeks that improvements on Woodward Road would keep the portion of the street that lies between Millhurst and Daum roads closed until the end of August.

Last week Roth said the work may be completed by the end of July.

The mayor said there had been some concern about keeping the schedule due to an "unforeseen utility conflict, but we were able to resolve that very quickly."

She said it is important for the builder, Hovnanian, and the township to complete the Woodward Road improvements as quickly as possible. Hovnanian is making the improvements in conjunction with the development of housing along Woodward Road.

According to Roth, there has been a threshold established on the number of building permits that will be issued until the road work is completed. The schedule will also affect the issuance of certificates of occupancy on completed construction.

Another planned road improvement project, this one at the intersection of Iron Ore and High Bridge roads, is not moving as quickly, but that does not mean the project has been halted, according to township engineer Greg Valesi.

Valesi said he has met with residents who will be affected by the road project in order to hear their concerns.

According to Valesi, the planned road improvements require Manalapan to acquire about 10 feet of frontage from some Iron Ore Road and High Bridge Road residents in order to make the needed improvements.

"It looks like it will be a minimal amount of land we'll need to acquire on both of those roads," he said.

However, the township may need to acquire more than 10 feet on what is referred to as Little Mount Vernon Road in order to make the intersection improvements at Iron Ore and High Bridge roads, he said.

According to Valesi, residents of Little Mount Vernon Road voiced concern because the potential exists for Manalapan to have to acquire more than 10 feet on their properties.

Valesi said he will examine the possibility of revising the conceptual sketches in an attempt to mitigate the residents' concerns.

The planned improvements to the intersection that is just outside of Englishtown where Mount Vernon, Iron Ore and High Bridge roads come together have been under discussion and in the planning stages for about five years. Coming from Route 33, the intersection is on a curve in Iron Ore Road and drivers must slow down and navigate a large hump to get onto High Bridge Road and head into Englishtown.

BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer News Transcript