Public works projects were a topic of discussion on Thursday night at the Watchung Borough Council meeting as the borough looks to make repairs and renovations to several Watchung roads in the relatively near future.
One of the top areas of need for renovation is Glen Eagle Drive, which, according to Councilman William Nehls, has had flooding and icing issues due to the two natural springs at nearby Washington State Park.
“Washington State Park has two springs, and these springs pour water out. This water happens to flow downhill, it goes through this area and we’ve had icing problems and road damage problems in this area,” Nehls said. “One of the things (Borough Engineer Tom Herits) would like to do is some drainage work in the area.”
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“This is something we need to move forward with,” Nehls continued. “We have had icing problems there every winter, the public works department is there all the time icing it down. It’s something we need to move forward with to try to fix this drainage problem.”
Nehls also mentioned that work on Johnson Dr. will begin shortly. The borough received a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for that project, and the borough now has an August deadline to begin renovations.
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“This has to get moving before August so we don’t lose that money,” Nehls said. “Mr. Herits will be coming to us shortly to get that in motion.”
The borough has also received grant money to begin drainage and road work on Lakeview Avenue and Cedar Road, although Nehls acknowledged that work would probably not begin on those two streets until sometime in 2013.
In the meantime, though, Nehls stated that the borough will finally be able to address drainage and road issues on Knollwood Drive, which has been a project on the radar of the borough for the past few years.
“Knollwood is back on the docket. We’re looking at doing that this coming year,” Nehls said. “Mr. Herits is putting numbers together for that, and that’s going to be a major project. We’re looking to do drainage and roadwork there.”
