By Allison Perrine
MIDDLETOWN – New Jersey American Water will replace nearly three miles of aging water main in the Two River area starting this week, the company announced Aug. 13.
Over the course of about four months, New Jersey American Water (NJAW) will upgrade water lines installed in the 1900s from Harrison Avenue in Red Bank through Fair Haven to Bingham Avenue in Rumson, in coordination with area leadership and Monmouth County officials. It will also replace 25 fire hydrants and 250 utility-owned service lines along the route, according to the company.
The importance of doing such work was demonstrated last week when a water main break in the River Plaza section of Middletown caused a sinkhole that swallowed a vehicle on West Front Street at the intersection of Whitman Drive. No injuries were reported.
“It’s important to replace aging water main infrastructure to help improve water quality, service reliability and fire protection for the communities we serve,” Chelsea Kulp, external affairs manager with New Jersey American Water, said in an email to The Two River Times. “The ability of these systems to provide adequate services is threatened by age, lack of reinvestment and a short-term focus.
Much of New Jersey will need to overhaul a lot of its existing drinking water infrastructure in the next two to three decades.”
The River Road project kicked off this week in Rumson at Third Street, according to Kulp. Only local traffic will be permitted between Bellevue Avenue and Bingham Avenue in the borough for the time being. In Fair Haven, the contractor crews are continuing to complete test pits between Harrison Avenue and Hance Road, and while that work is being completed, traffic will be alternated.
In the coming days, a second crew is expected to begin construction in Red Bank and Fair Haven. Weekly updates on this project will be posted each Friday morning while work is being performed, according to Kulp. To alleviate traffic restrictions, work hours will be as follows: Fair Haven, between Hance Road and Buena Vista Avenue, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday night through Friday morning, and between Hance Road and Lake Avenue from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; Rumson, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Fri- day; and Red Bank from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We are pleased to replace nearly three miles of aging main in Fair Haven, Red Bank and Rumson in collaboration with Fair Haven and Rumson’s streetscaping improvement projects,” said Joseph Meyer, senior manager of field operations, in a press release. “Replacing these water mains will improve the delivery of water service to our customers and will strengthen our system for the future.
“We are coordinating this project with Monmouth County so we can upgrade this important section of water main in our system prior to the scheduled paving of this roadway in 2022,” Meyer continued.
According to this year’s report card by the American Society of Civil Engineers, over the next 20 years, the state could have to spend $8.6 billion to replace drinking water infrastructure. Most of New Jersey’s drinking water infrastructure has “aged significantly” and has not received adequate capital spending for some time, Kulp said.
That’s why NJAW “proactively replaces” and upgrades aging pipes, including in the Two River area. The company will invest $5.8 million for the project as part of its multimillion-dollar initiative to renew water infrastructure that has reached or will soon reach the end of its useful life in over 100 municipalities statewide. In total, NJAW services 192 communities throughout the state.
Not only does replacing aging water infrastructure serve as an important feature to keep communities safe, but it also provides jobs to those in need. According to Kulp, these projects create an estimated 16 job openings for every $1 million invested in water infrastructure.
The company asks that customers “recognize the essential work being done” by employees and contractors and reminds them to adhere to social distancing rules for everyone’s safety. Any customers who see crew members working in their area and have questions can call customer service at 800-272-1325 or email riverroadproject@amwater.com. They may visit the Alerts page on the website or the company’s Facebook or Twitter pages for weekly updates.
This article originally appeared in the Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, 2021, print edition of The Two River Times.
