Ida Costs Bridgewater $2.4M To Repair Flood Damages

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — It's been just about two weeks since Hurricane Ida slammed Bridgewater causing at least $2.4 million in damage to the township's infrastructure. Repairs are continuing to get roadways reopened.

"In an emergency such as this, it is incumbent upon elected officials and staff to act quickly to ensure that major life safety issues are addressed," said Mayor Matthew Moench. "These solutions, however, have a cost to the Township and our taxpayers. Since Somerset County has been declared a federal disaster area, the Township is eligible to receive a 75 percent reimbursement from FEMA for much of our emergency expenditures. I will be urging our state and federal representatives to assist the Township in expediting that process for the benefit of our residents."

Bridgewater Township Engineer Bill Burr gave an extensive report at this past Thursday's council meeting laying out the multiple aspects the township is tackling. These include the sewer main under Route 22, Vosseller Avenue, 18 other damaged roadways, and assessing rivers and brooks to avoid future issues.

Route 22

The portion of Route 22 that crosses over Middle Brook River was severely damaged from the storm.

"It looked like a bomb went off," said Councilman Michael Kirsh of the damage.

Water completely inundated the bridge on both the underside and above the bridge causing extensive damage and even one death. Read More: Missing Woman From Bridgewater Flood Found Dead

"The force of floodwaters raging underneath and water coming over the bridge deck in concert with the scouring below was a double team effort," said Burr.

As a result, the township, PSE&G, and New Jersey Department of Transportation each had to make their own repairs. For the township, it was the main sewer line.

"The floodwater washed away a 200-foot portion of the stream," said Burr.

A 50-foot wide by 30- to 40-foot high portion of the stream was washed away and in the process took out the sewer main with it, according to Burr.

The township began emergency work on the sewer line the following day of the storm and completed all repairs this past Monday. Work was contracted to Vollers Excavating & Construction for a cost of $400,000.

PSE&G also worked to replace a damaged utility pole and NJDOT is continuing repairs to the bridge. A detour remains at the area of the highway as of Tuesday.

18 Roads

Portions of 18 roadways in the township also sustained debilitating damage during the storm. As a result, a $1 million emergency appropriation and emergency contract was awarded to Top Line for emergency roads repairs on Sept. 3.

An additional, $200,000 emergency appropriation and emergency contract was awarded to Pave Rite for various drainage repairs on Sept. 9.

The 18 roads to be repaired include:

• Rolling Knolls Road
• Heather Hill Way
• Papen Road
• Appleman Way
• Gateshead Drive
• Hunter Road
• Fairfield Road
• Sherlin Drive
• Overlook Drive
• Tullo Farm Road
• Beaumonte Way
• Linvale Lane
• Wimple Way
• Brookside Drive
• Blazier Way
• Lynne Way
• Kim's Court

The emergency work on these roads will take precedent over regularly scheduled work causing a minimal delay to other projects.

Vosseller Avenue

Vosseller Avenue also received major damage when a retaining wall, built in 2011, collapsed between Hillcrest Road and Middlebrook Road.

As a result, an $800,000 emergency appropriation and emergency contract was awarded on Sept. 9 to Vollers Excavating & Construction to repair the retaining wall on Voseller Avenue.

The contractor began work imminently to resolve this unsafe condition and get that section of Vosseller Avenue open as soon as possible.

Burr said this time though the contractor and engineer are working on a plan to replace the retaining wall with something that will be able to sustain floodwaters better than before.

"Our concern is simply that if we put back the same retaining wall we may have the same issue 5 to 6 years from now," said Burr. "We are looking at the same objective but will be a different design that we think will last much longer."

Work is expected to take about two weeks to complete.

Rivers, Brooks, Dry Drainage Channels

Burr said the township is also going around town to assess rivers, brooks and dry drainage channels to come up with a plan to avoid this from happening again. No plan has been established yet.

"The bottom line is protecting our residents," said Bridgewater Council Vice President Allen Krudyla.

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