Washington Township DPW Rises to the Challenge

One of Washington Township's least recognized municipal services is the Department of Public Works (Roads, Buildings and Grounds, Field Maintenance, Recycling, etc.).

As with many core activities in a municipality, residents only think about that department when something displeases them. Potholes, rough roads, trees down, flooding, snow storms, drainage problems, blocked roads are examples. When the weather is very bad, the department usually goes to 12 hour shifts around the clock to clear the roads and, keep them open and safe to use.

Think about driving a heavy duty truck with a plow attached on Naughright Road where winds are blowing snow off farm fields as fast as the road can be cleared. With over 150 miles of streets and roads to keep open, many of them steep and narrow, some with poor drainage, the DPW employees are hard pressed to keep everyone satisfied. Their first priority is to ensure that Police, Fire and First Aid units can get on the road when needed. Roads that are heavily used by School buses and commuters follow right behind.

Storms that bring down trees, electric and telephone wires add to the challenge of safely clearing roads. In terms of storms, I think the Road Crews did an outstanding job with heavy rains, flooding rivers and wide spread tree and utilities damage. The latest multi year challenge is reduced funding for necessary road rehabilitation. Given the bad economy, road projects have been postponed or scaled back to stay within monies available. 1-2 million dollars is a lot of money, but in 2011 it only funded part of Wherli Road, Flocktown Road and Parker Road repaving/reconstruction. Each year that projects are delayed translates into increased work to restore them, because of increased damage, and higher prices for additional materials.

The Township Committee is soon going to start the budget development process for 2012. Residents should attend budget meetings to find out how road projects are prioritized and selected. It wouldn't hurt to let the Township Committee know that you appreciate the DPW employees who responded so well when Nature showed that it is a force to be reckoned with.