EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — East Brunswick will receive $1.5 million in state funding to replace an aging water transmission main running under U.S. Route 1, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs announced recently.
Sen. Patrick Diegnan and Assemblymen Robert Karabinchak and Sterley Stanley secured the funding for fiscal year 2026 as part of the State Legislature's annual budget process, according to the announcement.
The money will allow East Brunswick to design and construct a new water transmission main beneath Route 1, one of the state's busiest roadways, which carries more than 115,000 vehicles a day, according to the announcement.
The existing main was installed 61 years ago and supplies potable water to East Brunswick as well as Spotswood, South River and Helmetta, officials said. A section of the concrete pipe about 1,800 feet north of the Route 1 crossing previously required repair due to age-related deterioration of its steel reinforcement.
"We cannot take a chance that this could happen again," Mayor Brad Cohen said in a Facebook post referring to the previous rupture. "God forbid a rupture occurred under Route 1, the interstate highway would need to be closed and the cost would be incalculable. Grants such as these help defray these costs which would otherwise be seen in increased water bills."
Over the last five budget cycles, Diegnan, Karabinchak and Stanley have secured a total of $7 million in state funding for East Brunswick, according to the announcement. Past projects have included renovations to Crystal Springs Water Park, an expansion of the Community Arts Center and construction of a new municipally owned skating rink and recreational facility.
"It is an honor to work with the Governor, Senate President Nick Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and our colleagues in the Legislature to bring these state dollars to East Brunswick," Diegnan, Karabinchak and Stanley said in a joint statement. "We are proud to be able to play a part in improving East Brunswick's infrastructure."
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