EAST BRUNSWICK — A large part of Riva Avenue and all of Farms Road will be reconstructed thanks to $500,000 in grants from the state Department of Transportation.
The section of Riva Avenue to be reconstructed runs from Golden Pond Drive to Henry Street. Farms Road will be rebuilt in its entirety, from Milltown Road to Timber Road.
Leslie P. McGowan, director of the East Brunswick Planning and Engineering Department, said the work will involve reconstruction of the two roads, including milling and repaving, but the roads will not be widened.
The two grants are for $250,000 and $242,000.
Councilman David Stahl said he worked along with the township administration and state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18) to get the grants from the state Department of Transportation. The money will relieve municipal taxpayers of much of the burden to fund the roadwork. In fact, Stahl mentioned that the $500,000 grant is equal to about 2.5 cents on the tax rate in East Brunswick.
Stahl said the work will be in addition to projects completed through the township’s annual road program. East Brunswick usually puts $800,000 a year into the capital budget for that work.
“It’s a great bonus for us to continue to make improvements without any tax implications at the local level,” he said.
Mayor William Neary thanked Buono, as well as state assemblymen Patrick Diegnan and Peter Barnes III (both D-18) for their assistance in securing the grants.
“These grants will serve a vital role in continuing to make East Brunswick commuters’ travel better each day,” Neary said.
McGowan said the improvements will likely be done next year.
The township has done some of the other sections of Riva Avenue over the past few years, she noted.
The money comes from the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.
“Ensuring the quality of our roads and walkways is absolutely essential for our communities,” Buono said in a press release. “These grants help us to invest in the safety and quality of our roads now and in the future.”

