Town to fix drainage on Old Davidson

Storm sewer system to be improved

By: Joseph Harvie
   The township will use a $230,000 state grant to pay for installation of storm sewers on Old Davidsons Mill Road.
   The money is part of the $78.75 million 2007 state Transportation Trust Fund Municipal Aid program, according to a press release issued by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, a Democrat whose district includes South Brunswick.
   Old Davidsons Mill Road is a gravel road in the eastern section of the township. It has intersections with Fresh Ponds and Davidsons Mill roads.
   Township Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz said that the township had been looking into installing the storm drains on the road for over a year.
   "There has been continuous flooding problems on that road," Mr. Schmalz said. "People’s backyards were flooding."
   He said that it was held up because one of the residents did not want the sewer lines to be installed because it would come on to their property.
   However, Mr. Schmalz said that the township met with all of the road’s residents and were able to ease their concerns.
   The township still needs state Department of Environmental protection approval before the sewers can be installed. The sewers are being installed near wetlands and will dump water into a nearby stream.
   The storm sewers would run along Old Davidsons Mill Road, across Davidsons Mill Road, and into a stream north of that road, Mr. Schmalz said.
   He said that is would be between six months and a year before the town hears back from the state.
   "It is a real good thing to have the funding in place," Mr. Schmalz said.