Towns work together
to repair shared road
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
SPOTSWOOD — Crescent Avenue here and in East Brunswick will get some long-awaited sidewalks and much-needed repaving, due in part to an agreement between the two municipalities.
Governing bodies in each town took action at their respective meetings last week to allow for reconstruction of Crescent Avenue, which straddles the boundary between the two communities.
The East Brunswick Township Council passed a resolution that provides for the township to pay $46,500 to have its portion of the road repaved, while the Spotswood Borough Council adopted an ordinance that provides for $400,000 worth of improvements on the road.
Spotswood Mayor Barry Zagnit said the towns cooperated so they could have the entire road repaved at once as one complete project.
Because most of the work will be done in Spotswood, that borough will do the actual hiring and paying of contractors, Zagnit said. The project will cost Spotswood about $100,000, because a state Department of Transportation grant will pay $245,000. Spotswood will be reimbursed $46,500 to pave the East Brunswick side of the road.
"This allows us to really do the work and do it correctly," Zagnit said.
Spotswood was thrilled to learn recently of the DOT grant, which includes not only repaving the road, but also the installation of curbs and sidewalks.
Zagnit said the entire length of East Brunswick’s side will be repaved.
"It’s generally in bad shape," Zagnit said. "We’d really be in bad shape if we could only [repave] half."
Councilman Curtis Stollen has said the road is a "hodgepodge" of different types of paving because of potholes that have been repaired over the years.
The main problem is the safety of walkers, bicyclists and drivers, officials said. There are not many sidewalks on the road, and the road itself is very narrow with no extra shoulder for traffic.
There are many homes on Spotswood’s side, as well as some senior citizen developments, while the East Brunswick portion is largely wooded.
Zagnit said he wanted to thank his neighbors for joining the effort.
"I want to thank Mayor Neary and the [Township] Council for dedicating that money to help us complete the Crescent Avenue project," he said. "We realize East Brunswick is a large community with many roads and places to put their money. This road is far more important to us than them. We feel that they recognize that what we’re trying to do is not just improve the road, but also improve the safety of the road for everyone."
He said the agreement amounted to "a gesture of good will from neighbor to neighbor."
Zagnit said he hopes work will begin before winter.

