$928K Approved For Manchester's Emergency Asphalt Needs, Road Paving Projects

MANCHESTER, NJ — Road work is ahead, as Township Council approved $928,000 worth of contracts to repave streets around Manchester at this week's meeting.

Brandon Umba, the township business administrator, said the officials budgeted $1 million for the roads program in the 2022 capital plan. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Umba said, the township took two years off of doing its annual repaving projects.

On Monday, Township Council approved a base bid from Meco Inc. for $680,377.15 for the 2022 Road Program. Meco will begin work on Southampton Boulevard, Middlesex Street, and Savannah Road in the next 60 days, Umba said.

Council also approved an emergency ordinance to buy $247,473 worth of pavement to complete the Chilvers Avenue repaving project.

Brick Wall Corporation, the state contract supplier, told Manchester officials "on short notice" that they had a supply delay and couldn't provide the pavement for several weeks.

Two other streets in were finished, but crews had milled Chilvers Avenue and suddenly did not have the asphalt to put over it. Officials deemed the street a public safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians in Manchester.

Umba said the town's normal bidding process would have taken at least 30 days, so officials consulted their Qualified Purchasing Agent to find a replacement source.

Earle Asphalt Company will provide the 3,100 tons of pavement needed to complete Chilvers Avenue. Umba said the township had this money budgeted already.

Next month, Umba said, Colliers Engineering will advertise for bids for the remaining portion of Schoolhouse Road. That project, which was done in five phases, uses state money.

"This will complete the multiyear paving project for all of Schoolhouse which was covered by NJDOT (Department of Transportation) grants," he said.

Manchester Street, New Jersey Way, and Lake Road were alternates on the Meco bid, Umba said. He said the township will wait to see how the budget looks before deciding whether or not to repave these streets in 2022.