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Politics & Government

County Road Project Plans Coming In Below Cost

County engineer says tough economy spells savings when it comes to road construction

Bad economic times are good times for road projects, according to Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino.

As proof he points to two contracts to be awarded next Wednesday for prices well below the engineer’s estimate. He sees that as evidence contractors are willing to sharpen their pencils to get work in a down economy.

Rebuilding about two miles of Lacey Road from Route 539 to Schoolhouse Road in Manchester Township will cost $4.07 million, under the contract going to C.J. Hesse Inc., of Belford. That is $100,000 under the estimated cost.

In Jackson, Lucas Brothers Inc., of Morganville will get a $1.5 million contract to replace the bridge carrying Route 571 over a branch of the Toms River at Rova Farms. That estimate was $2 million, Scarantino said.

In Manchester Township, Freeholder John P. Kelly said the project includes 4,000 feet of new sidewalks, five new left-turn lanes at intersections, a new rail crossing, wider shoulders, a new traffic signal and three storm drainage basins.

In Jackson, the existing bridge will be replaced, the road approaching the span rebuilt and parts of the spillway walls replaced. That project is expected to take 12 to 14 months to finish.

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