Expect delays during the $15.1 million project to raise and renovate the Van Veghten Bridge.
By: Charlie Olsen
A $3.5 million project to resurface Main Street at night should be completed in about two weeks, according to a county official supervising the project.
The resurfacing extends from the Hillsborough Township line through the center of Manville on Main Street which is County Road 533 out until it reaches Route 22 North.
"The last time it was resurfaced was in 1995 or 1996," said Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke. "The county has a program to update or redo roads on a schedule; this is one of those projects."
According to county construction engineer Gary Cortelyou, the first phase of the project milling off 2 inches of the road, known as the top course was scheduled to be completed by last night (Wednesday).
"It’s all being done at night, except for the raising of manholes," Mr. Cortelyou said. "There shouldn’t be any other delays, unless it rains."
Mr. Cortelyou said the next phases of the project include six nights for paving the milled areas, and five nights for striping painting the lines.
Mr. Cortelyou said the project, a maintenance project to preserve the top course, is being carried out by Della Pello Contracting Co., of Union.
Apart from the raising and leveling the manholes, Mr. Cortelyou said there shouldn’t be any traffic delays for daytime drivers.
"It’s not too bad at all; we’ve got police out there directing drivers," Mr. Cortelyou said. "People just need to slow down as they’re going through the milled areas."
However, drivers need to be plan ahead for the $15.1 million project to raise and renovate the Van Veghten Bridge that began Tuesday, said county engineer John Kendzulak.
Mr. Garwacke said the resurfacing was part of a larger county plan to have a better road system from Bridgewater into Manville.
"When paving a road you can’t wait until it’s completely failed, especially on a road that has major traffic," Mr. Garwacke said. "The county also wants to have a nicer thoroughfare through Bridgewater and Manville."
The recommended alternate route of travel is Route 206, Mr. Kendzulak said. There will be heavy traffic delays caused by the closing of half the bridge for the duration of the 18-month-long project.

