Downtown Toms River Water Main Replacement Project Starts Monday

TOMS RIVER, NJ — If you have to travel in downtown Toms River in the coming days, plan extra travel time: A $5 million project to replace water mains is set to begin Monday.

The project will include work on Washington Street, Hooper Avenue, Hyers Street, Robbins Street, Allen Street, Maiden Lane and Brooks Road, representatives of Suez, the water company, said.

Suez officials anticipate daytime and night-time project work, traffic detours and intermittent, temporary parking limitations to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible, the company said in a news release.

The project will replace 3 miles of water main and renew about 230 individual services,are the company said.

"We found that some of the oldest water mains, roughly over 60 years old, as well as one dating back to 1918 in the project area, are in need of immediate replacement," said Jim Mastrokalos, director of operations for Suez.

The old mains will be replaced with 6-, 8- and 12-inch ductile iron pipes that "will improve service and build a resilient, sustainable water system that the downtown community can rely on for years to come," he said.

Suez officials said the company "will provide ample notification to customers as the project progresses including when to expect short-term interruptions of water service and heavy equipment in the area."

The project is expected to be completed including milling and paving by December, with final restoration expected in April 2022.

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