Goodbye, Potholes!

Although last winter was a somewhat milder one than those of the immediately preceding three or so, the result is that many streets in Bridgewater have taken a brutal beating, testing to the upper limit the capacity of the Township’s budget to keep up with road damage throughout the Township.

Artist at work:  Could you accomplish this task as well

 as this person? No way could I. !! (Bergeron Image.)

It’s no secret to anyone that municipal budgets are tight everywhere and that in some cases, townships throughout New Jersey are playing a catch-up game with road repairs.

On a regular basis, Priscille and I use Brown Road as a shortcut to get from Washington Valley Road (WVR) to Route 202/206 south:  We have found it increasingly bumpy.

In particular, the northbound side of Brown Road from Papen to WVR has gradually deteriorated over the last five years or so, to the point that fixing potholes just meant patching the same ones over and over again, resulting in a crazy quilt riding pattern of thuds and thumps for drivers.

That is why I was so gratified early this week when, while driving northbound on Brown Road, up the side of the ridge, I spotted a crew working at the intersection of Papen and Brown roads and, further uphill, at the intersection of WVR and Brown – a very busy intersection.

Looking south, at the sidewalk

 being repaired to the side

 of Brown Road. (Bergeron Image.)

New cement was being poured for the sidewalks at both intersections.  The four corners are also being pushed back somewhat to make for easier vehicular turns. 

The craftsmanship is first-rate.  The workers who are installing the stone curbing and laying and grading the new cement sidewalks for the handicap crossovers are doing a professional job – no slacking workers here!

I stopped to take a few photos and to inquire about the roadway itself:  Looks like Bridgewater residents who use that section of our streets will be getting a brand new road, not just a mere resurfacing. 

I was informed by one of the men working the front end loader for the contractor that, as soon as the current phase is completed, the section of road from Papen to WVR will be milled and repaved. 

(Road milling is the process whereby a specialized piece of road equipment grinds up the old road surface and transfers the ‘millings’ via a conveyor belt into 10-wheeler dump trucks for recycling.  A fresh coating of asphalt is then applied over the underling base, giving drivers a nice, smooth surface.)

A closeup view of successive winter damage

 to a representative section of Brown Road,

now under renewal. (Bergeron Image.)

Incidentally, the intersection of Mine and Foothill Roads has already received a similar preparatory treatment, in that the curbing at the bottom of Mine Road has already been pushed back, and the catch basins have been raised.  (Although I have not inquired about a possible next phase, the raising of the catch basins at the bottom of the hill suggests additional work on the road surface itself.)

As some of you readers may remember, I have often mentioned that I admire good workmanship by people who do real work with their hands and backs.  We can tout the value of an education all we want – and we should – but we’d be nowhere without the hard, necessary work done each day by efficient, skilled laborers, truck drivers, and equipment operators.

Thanks for reading.  Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

(Click on any image for an enhanced view.)