​Toms River Plans For Paving Repairs In 2021

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Officials in Toms River are expected to soon roll out a plan for road and pavement repairs that will be completed in 2021, township engineer Robert Chankalian said Tuesday in a township council meeting.

Chankalian told council members the township's roads have been mapped and ranked based by road quality in the town's GIS system and will be repaired accordingly. Citizen complaints will also be considered in prioritizing repairs.

Chankalian said once money is allotted for the project and repairs begin, crews will continue to work until the funds run out. Because the cost of asphalt varies alongside the cost of oil, it's difficult to say how many roads will be repaired in 2021.

Any roads left incomplete in 2021 will be prioritized in 2022, Chankalian said.

Another factor that could impact progress on repairs is the cost of installing wheelchair ramps. In neighborhoods where sidewalks exist, a federal mandate requires that wheelchair ramps and crosswalks be installed.

"That does take a chunk out of the budget," the engineer said.

The township engineer said a proposal, including a map and a request for authorization to bid, will be provided at the council's next meeting, and bids will likely be returned by March or April.