The township has coordinated with the police department and neighboring Milltown to establish alternative routes.
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Mayor Brad Cohen addressed community concerns about ongoing and upcoming road construction projects in East Brunswick during the Council meeting last week.
He told the community that critical infrastructure work cannot be delayed despite the inconvenience it poses to residents.
In response to questions about the timing of multiple simultaneous projects—including work on Tices Lane and the upcoming Ryders Lane project set to begin Tuesday — Cohen explained that these repairs are essential and cannot wait for the completion of the four-year Route 18 project.
The Tices Lane work is a PSE&G project involving the replacement of utility lines to improve service reliability and prevent potential outages for area residents, Cohen said. He noted that the township has no jurisdiction over PSE&G infrastructure, as the utility company has right-of-way access to conduct necessary repairs.
The project was scheduled to coincide with school holidays to minimize disruption, and work is halted during school bus entrance and exit times. This project is expected to be completed soon.
The Ryders Lane project, managed by Conrail, addresses safety concerns that were first raised nearly three years ago.
According to the mayor, the railroad company notified the township that the line was unsafe and unstable, with failing concrete and asphalt creating risks for both drivers and trains, including potential derailment.
The road crosses over the New Jersey Turnpike, involving jurisdiction from Middlesex County, Conrail, and the Turnpike Authority. The township requested that Conrail not schedule the work simultaneously with the Tices Lane project.
Mayor Cohen acknowledged that while the township attempts to schedule major road projects during summer months when schools are closed, it’s impractical to confine all infrastructure work to that two-month window.
“They have other towns to take care of besides East Brunswick, and so does Conrail. So, it’s never going to be something that could only be fit in during the two months where there’s no kids in school. Just not practical,” Cohen said.
The township has coordinated with the police department and neighboring Milltown to establish alternative routes, and residents have been receiving regular notifications about the projects to allow for planning and adjustments to travel schedules.
“We’re just asking for everyone to be patient,” Cohen said. “When these projects are completed, like other projects we’ve done in town, the roads will be better, easier to navigate, and safer. That is the goal here.”
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