'Aggressive' Road Paving Projects Set for Morris County in 2015

A short-term financing plan has been approved by the Morris County Freeholders to finance a plan that will see 32 miles of roadways in 20 different towns be repaved in 2015.

The county’s governing body recently approved a $10.2 million spending plan with the expectancy of some $4 million coming from the state to help finance the project. The county will allocate $6.2 million of its own capital funds for the year’s worth of resurfacing.

It will be the second consecutive year more than 30 miles of roads in the county are repaved.

Some of the major resurfacing projects include South Beverwyck Road in Parsippany, Fairmount Avenue in the Chathams, East Hanover Avenue in Hanover Township, and Changebridge and Whitehall Roads in Montville.

While some 40-percent of the cost is expected to come from the state, the Freeholders are financing the entirety of the project at this point as aid from the state is currently delayed. In order to fund the project, short-term bond anticipation notes were issued so the county could move forward.

Short-term Fixes

Sure, some roads need resurfacing, but as towns dry out, car-crushing potholes are becoming more and more apparent.

The county is currently deploying a half-dozen road crews to patch and fill the worst of the potholes in the county along 280 miles of roadways.

Workers are using Hot Boxes, which were purchased by the county in 2014. The Hot Box keeps asphalt heated at the right temperature to ensure a better, longer-lasting repair.

If you see a major pothole on a county road, report it via email at planningpublicworks@co.morris.nj.us, or by calling 973-285-6763.

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