Road Funds to Increase 90 Percent For Repairs

The Warren Township Committee said that the repair of roads in the township is a primary focus in 2012 and beyond.

Like many municipalities, the township is dealing with a plethora of challenges in road infrastructure. By some accounts, it’s a challenge to get to one end of Warren to the other without experiencing multiple potholes and patches.

“We know that many of these roads, not the primary but the secondary roads, are in need of improvement,” said newly elected councilman Mick Marion. “I have a couple in my mind which are parts of King George and Old Stirling. I think the idea is to identify these roads and put them in priority (for repair).”

Township administrator Mark Krane said that the 2012 budget will contain a 90 percent increase in money devoted to road repair. The budget is expected to be finalized by March 1.

“The roads we have laid out (for repair) in our current plan we have been planning for a long time,” Krane said. “There is a need to change to a more formal grading process and your input would be welcome.”

Krane said the township has 323 roads.

“To do 11 roads a year it will be 30 years before we finish all the roads,” Krane quipped.

Krane said he expects that work would begin in earnest in June after bids are awarded.

“We are going to propose that the piece of King George between Ferguson and Mt. Horeb Road be changed to Berkshire south to Cotswold," he said. "The current budget proposes paving from Forest Drive south to No. 41 and the engineering is working on the specs from Forest Drive north to Route 78. Be prepared for the complaints that no one can get through."

Mayor Carolann Garafola said she had written an article in the township newsletter that asked residents to be patient while the repairs are under way.

“People will have to put up with detours and inconvenience," she said. "Hopefully folks will be understanding.”