$325K Yearly Average: Road Project Costs In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham Township is keeping up with its paving and road maintenance program, if it spends an average of $325,000 each year, Township Engineer John Ruschke said during a presentation to the Township Committee.

Ruschke presented the preliminary road improvement budget to the Township Committee on Tuesday. He said the 2022 total expenditures will be $587,000. The township, however, has received $268,000 in grant monies from New Jersey’s Department of Transportation. Average yearly road maintenance costs are $325,000, he said.

He also gave a preliminary rundown on the township’s paving projects. He said there are approximately 40 miles of municipal roads. Most are resurfaced every 20 years, he said. Heavily-traveled roads may require maintenance sooner. Ruschke said the timespan for some paving projects is more than 20 years, if roads — like cul-de-sacs — have less traffic.

Roads undergo a condition assessment each year to determine if resurfacing is needed, Ruschke said. This process includes the Township Administrator Robert Hoffmann. Hoffmann then weighs recommendations for repair versus funding, said Ruschke.

A vendor helped in 2021 to perform the road assessment, using infrared technology and computer imaging. This type of assessment should be done every couple of years, Ruschke said.

Hoffmann told the committee, the computer analysis helps to detect conditions under the road’s surface.

Some maintenance is preventative and includes sealing cracks and micropaving, which is performed by the township's Department of Public Works (DPW), he said. Roads deteriorate at a faster rate as the time for maintenance gets closer, Ruschke said. Preventative maintenance increases a road’s longevity, he added. The goal is to avoid reconstruction of the road, which can become more costly, he said.

Ruschke said feedback is given on the projects from the Engineering Department, the DPW, police and Sewer Department, before road projects are executed. Police are contacted to discuss any particular safety issues. The coordination includes collaboration with utility companies and the County of Morris.

Utility companies like PSE&G and New Jersey American Water are made aware of the township’s upcoming projects. The utilities exchange information with the township, about any township projects.

The county also furnishes a list of its road projects to the township.

Prior to a road being repaved, the DPW assists with preparation, Ruschke explained.

In 2021, the budget needed extra funding due to the rising costs of asphalt, Ruschke added.

Watch Ruschke’s full presentation and the Township Committee discussion below:

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