Berkeley Council demanding New Jersey Natural Gas finish pipe line project on Route 9
EDITORS NOTE: This article has been updated to add in a statement from New Jersey Natural Gas.
Are you tired of waiting for Route 9 in Bayville to be repaved so there's not dozens of patched up potholes?
Berkeley Township government leaders say they are just as frustrated as you that work isn't done yet on Route 9 and they're pushing for answers.
The Berkeley Township Council introduced a resolution at this weeks meeting demanding that New Jersey Natural Gas finish up their gas pipe line project on Route 9 and give them a date of when they will be done.
Berkeley said they can't having the NJ DOT come in and pave Route 9 until New Jersey Natural Gas finishes up their work.
In the resolution Berkeley Council President Angelo Guadagno and the council cited the length of this project to date and the delays it has caused on this roadway because of the ongoing pipe line work by NJNG.
In a resolution obtained by Townsquare Media News, they said that, "In addition to the inconvenience of enhanced congestion, the NJNG installation project has further delayed the milling and paving of Route 9 by the New Jersey Department of Transportation within Berkeley Township, as the NJ DOT will not pave the area in the middle of utility work."
They said the town has been waiting for years for this work to get done so the DOT can move on in.
"Route 9 is in a complete state of disrepair in certain areas and the township was recently notified by the NJDOT that it would finally repair Route 9 but the NJNG installation project has delayed the roadwork. The township and its residents have waited years for the repaving of Route 9 and demands NJNG provide a date by which the pipe installation project will be completed and implores NJNG to complete the work as soon as possible to prevent any more inconveniences to the motoring public."
Council President Guadagno said that township clerk Beverly Carle will be sending a copy of the resolution to NJNG.
A New Jersey Natural Gas Spokesperson provided a statement to Townsquare Media News in response to the Berkeley Council resolution.
"It's disappointing to see the council consider a resolution like this before reaching out to us directly to have their questions answered and concerns addressed – something we are always happy to do. While the past season’s severe winter weather caused some work delays, we are still within weeks of our last projected project completion timeline. The majority of the project work that had larger traffic impacts is already completed, with roadway restoration work in Beachwood already underway. Smaller tie-in and related system work to finalize the project is expected to be completed by mid-May, followed by final roadway restoration in those work areas."
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