West Long Branch to DOT: Repave Route 71

Stretch between Rt. 36 and Norwood aves. needs repairs, council says

BY SUE MORGAN Staff Writer

BY SUE MORGAN
Staff Writer

WEST LONG BRANCH – Urgent message from the Borough Council to Trenton: Repave Route 71, pronto.

Via a unanimous vote, the council passed a resolution at its June 7 meeting petitioning the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite repairs to the damaged roadway by the end of its construction season this year.

The resolution, which will be forwarded to DOT officials, specifically describes the portion of Route 71 between Route 36 in West Long Branch and Norwood Avenue, just east of the entrance to Monmouth University as “in need of repair…”

The roadway is known as Monmouth Road from its juncture with Route 36 until it meets Locust Avenue at a busy four-point intersection in the borough. East of Locust Street, Route 71 becomes Cedar Avenue, which continues past the university to Norwood Avenue.

In short, the roadway’s heavy usage, particularly during the summer tourist season and the university school year, has resulted in the deterioration of its surface, that puts motorists at risk, the council resolution states.

“This roadway serves as a direct east to west connection route between major highways for commuters, recreational and tourist traffic, commuting university students, and emergency evacuation for the Jersey Shore,” the approved resolution states.

DOT ought to join borough officials in considering “this repair of an emergency nature and schedule the repair to be completed prior to the close of the 2006 construction season,” the motion concludes.

A long-running construction and repaving project by the DOT around the intersection of Monmouth Road and Wall Street, a county highway, was wrapped up earlier this year.

In other business, the council also awarded a $7,000 contract to Garden State Fireworks for the borough’s annual July Fourth pyrotechnic display at Franklin Lake Park.

Garden State Fireworks was the only fireworks vendor to submit a proposal to the borough’s purchasing agent, according to a copy of the approved resolution.

The contract will provide for a July Fourth display with a rain date set for July 8 and for compliance with the borough’s insurance requirements and other terms, the resolution states.