By nicole c. vaccaro
SPOTSWOOD — Borough officials released the names of five streets that will be included in the community’s third phase of water main relining projects.
Jensen, Gaskin and Herbert avenues will be done in their entirety, while Easton Avenue will be done from Madie Avenue to Old Stage Road and Ellenel Boulevard from Jensen Avenue to Old Stage Road.
The total cost of the project has been earmarked at $310,000 and has already been figured into the year 2000 budget, according to Business Administrator Wayne Hamilton.
The water main relining program was first introduced in the spring of 1999 in response to longtime complaints from residents regarding discolored, brown water.
Since then, water mains on Manalapan Road from the Helmetta border to Morris Avenue, Reider Road and Evelyn Terrace were cleaned and lined with cement to remove existing, and prevent future, tuberculation. Tuberculation is the buildup of mineral deposits inside the unlined cast iron water mains.
Toward the close of 1999, a second water main relining project was undertaken on Old Stage Road between Brunswick Avenue and Summerhill Road.
The third phase is scheduled to begin shortly after the borough’s engineering firm, CME Associates, Sayreville, completes its plans and specifications for the five roads.
"We would like to conduct relining projects on an annual basis and will continue to target those areas with the highest volume of discoloration complaints," Mayor Barry Zagnit said.
The mayor also said that he will direct the engineer to work the necessary figures into the budget yearly so that there are no surprises.
Zagnit said that these projects do not qualify for state aid, but that the borough is not complaining about that.
"The state has been extremely generous toward us in the past and for that we are very grateful," he added. "But these repairs are necessary and we will do whatever it takes to make them happen."