Is Indian Hill Spur Safe to Plow?

Department of Public Works Director Thomas Mazzaccaro this month recommended suspending snow plow services to a private road in the Towaco section of the township after safety concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the road.

Township Engineer Anthony Barile said the steep, narrow spur off Indian Hill Road shows signs of "subsurface failure" that could cause the road to sink, possibly leading to a car rolling down a steep embankment.

There are four homes at the top of the road. One resident said she hadn't yet heard about the town's concerns and that she didn't know what she and her neighbors would do if the town stopped plowing.

Committeewoman Deborah Nielson said she wished the issue was addressed before winter and that affected residents knew it was being discussed by the town.

"If I was one of those homeowners, I'd be very upset," she said. "This didn't deteriorate overnight."

Officials said using smaller trucks might be a possible solution. Deputy Mayor Tim Braden said a decision would be up to the professionals if it snows before the issue is resolved.

Director of Thomas Mazzaccaro wrote in a memo Dec. 7, which was discussed at the Dec. 13 meeting,

The Township of Montville currently plows snow on a Private Right-Of-Way (spur) off Indian Hill Road. A recent inspection of the pavement by the DPW and the Township Engineer has determined the road to be unsafe for Township personnel and equipment to continue plowing. In view of the safety issues on the R.O.W., I recommend the Township suspend plowing services until such time as the road is determined to be safe for such services.

Towship engineer Anthony Barile wrote in a Nov. 18 email to Mazzaccaro,

Today I accompanied you and Herb Ackerman Jr. to Indian Hill Road and viewed the spur road there. Based on what I observed I am very concerned with the safety of vehicular traffic, especially trucks, using the spur road. The narrowness of the road (just wide enough for one vehicle) immediately captures one's attention but my concern is based on the structural integrity of a portion of the westerly side of the road. A steep downgrade begins immediately at the edge of the road with no support other than that provided by some trees that have grown on the embankment in some parts of the area of concern. The edge and wheel path of the road show signs of pavement deterioration of a type that can indicate a subsurface failure which can be an indication of a future subsidence of that side of the road. If/when this occurs, it is possible that the vehicle at that point will most likely roll down the embankment as we have seen previously occur in the Township.

Officials said there was a past case in which a township employee was driving a township truck on Brook Valley Road. The driver felt the road giving way and got out of the truck in time. The truck landed upside down.

Township attorney Martin Murphy, in response to questions from Township Commitee members, said the road is not the town's responsibility, and that if there ever is an incident involving the road, the town hearing about safety concerns beforehand does not mean the the town has greater liability.

The Township Committee . In that case, the road's owner, Russ Pisano, said he signed an agreement saying he would maintain the road, including plowing, after he said he was told by the town it doesn't plow private roads.

Pisano said he was all right with that arrangement until he learned the town does plow other private roads. He filed a lawsuit when the town wouldn't work with him and a Superior Court judge said he and the town should continue to discuss the issue.