Council Briefs: Road Projects Nearing Completion

What follows is an account of actions taken on Feb. 7 by the Bridgewater Township Council, which, while not breaking news, are still of note.

Council approves decrease in payment for construction project

With the close-out of a street improvement project, the township council approved a resolution that also decreases the price of the project with Z. Brothers Concrete Contractors Inc. from $269,883.70 to $257,287.59.

Township administrator Robert Bogart said this work is the close-out to the improvements on Maple and Perry streets.

According to the resolution, the decrease in cost comes because of adjustments in the number of materials needed to finish the work.

Council approves increase in charges for construction

The township council unanimously approved a resolution concerning an increase in a change order for a road patching project.

The project began in 2008 through S. Brothers Construction for patching and resurfacing on Heather Hill Way, Hunter Road, Steele Gap, Talamini Road, Croyden Road, Dow Road, Tullo Road extension and West Foothill Road.

The cost of the project increased from $270,860 to $277,959.23 because of a change in the quantity of materials needed to finish.

“This is an older project that was mostly done in 2009,” said township administrator Robert Bogart. “The work is satisfactory.”

Unknown sewer pump line leads to increase in costs

Because of an unknown sewer pump line, the cost for professional engineering services for the Mountain Top Road roadway improvements has increased by $2,800.

The township council unanimously approved the change order to increase the costs from $29,000 to $31,800.

“There is a minor additional payment,” township administrator Robert Bogart said. “There was a sewer pump line that was unknown to us and that drove a redesign.”

“This money is to compensate that extra design,” he added.

No passing zone requested on Route 28

In compliance with a request from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the township council approved a resolution to support the use of a no passing zone on Route 28 near North Adamsville and Yorktown roads.

According to the resolution, the NJDOT completed a traffic investigation on Route 28, and has recommended this revision.

“I’m shocked there is not a no passing zone already,” said councilman Allen Kurdyla.

Change order approved to increase contract now that measurements known

The township council unanimously approved a resolution to increase the payment to Asphalt Systems Inc. by $5,711.28 for the 2010 Maintenance and Repair Work-Chip Seal and Microsurfacing.

The cost has increased from $102,281 to $108,532.20.

According to township administrator Robert Bogart, the work was initially bid on an estimated quantity of materials, with an estimate made by the township’s engineering department.

The actual contract amount has to be increased based on the work done.

But councilwoman Christine Henderson Rose expressed a little concern about so many increasing change orders.

“I am noticing that costs are going up, not down,” she said. “Is there enough money to cover this?”

“These costs are all lower than was initially put aside in the bond ordinance,” Bogart said.

Final change order decreases costs as permits approved

The township council approved a resolution to allow for a decrease in the cost of work on the first phase of the Byrd Avenue Area Drainage Improvement Project with T. Fiotakis Construction Company.

According to the resolution, there was a decrease in the amount of materials needed so the costs has been lowered from $133,400 to $130,940.

“This is the first portion of the project,” township administrator Robert Bogart said. “It took time for the Department of Environmental Protection permits to come in.”