Township Committee introduced an ordinance Monday that will fund the construction plan.
By: Jessica Beym
Construction on Liberty Way, a road expected to run from South River Road to Station Road, will resume this spring, according to township officials.
The Township Committee introduced an ordinance Monday that will provide the township with $855,000 when it’s approved. Of that, $655,000 will be appropriated for the construction of portions of Liberty Way. The remaining $200,000 will be designated for the construction of the Babe Ruth baseball field on the Wright South property, adjacent to the school.
The township has been planning the construction of Liberty Way since 2002. The road is designed to divert truck traffic from the township’s section of Route 130 and toward N.J. Turnpike Exit 8A.
Township Engineer Cathy Marcelli said the township has already secured $700,000 in grants from the state Department of Transportation Municipal Trust program to complete the portion of road that stretches south of Half Acre Road to Cranbury Brook.
Parts that have already been completed include a 2,500-foot section connecting South River Road to Security Drive, a 750-foot portion extending south of Half Acre Road and a section that runs from Cranbury Brook going south to Station Road and passes the Cranbury Police Department.
Warehouse developers whose buildings border the road, including Cabot Industries and Prologis Trust have also built portions of the road.
Township Administrator Tom Witt said the township plans to award a contract next week and the construction of the southern portion of Liberty Way will begin in the spring.
The township has also received a grant from the NJDOT for $223,000 to go toward the future completion of 1,250 feet of Liberty Way north from Half Acre Road extending to Security Drive.
In addition to the road, the township is also working with Middlesex County to develop plans for a two-lane bridge, which will cross the east part of Brainerd Lake and Cranbury Brook and will connect portions of Liberty Way.
Mr. Witt said the bridge, which may not be completed until 2009, will be the final portion needed to complete the road. Mr. Witt said Middlesex County has agreed to pay for the costs of design and engineering of the project and will split the cost of the bridge construction with the township.
Mr. Witt said he expects the cost of the bridge to be substantial, but also to be significantly less than the original $16 million estimate. Ms. Marcelli said the township may apply for grants to fund the bridge.
"The bridge is a long way out. It’s still in the early planning stages," said Mr. Witt. "We only had one meeting with the county engineers which was very informal. The design will take awhile. The county is really more in control of the speed of that project."