Ortley Beach Road Projects to Begin in July

A number of road repair and drainage projects in Ortley Beach will begin in July, the township announced this week.

The four month-long project will address about 75 percent of remaining roads that need work in Ortley Beach, which suffered heavy damage during Superstorm Sandy. The projects are set to begin on or about July 14.

The contractor for the project will be cleaning storm drainage pipes and catch basins, replacing any broken pipes, replacing broken curbs and sidewalks damaged by Sandy, replacing lost street signs, and paving damaged roadway areas. Final surface course paving will be held off for a few years until all utility work and home reconstruction is further along, officials said.

"We expect more road openings, as residents rebuild their homes and need to disconnect and re-connect utilities, so we don’t want to pave the final course as of yet," said Robert J. Chankalian, township engineer, in a statement. "However, all roads will be paved with base course pavement and made passable."

The work will be on township-owned side streets, officials said, and road closures are not expected except in emergency situations. The work will mostly be contained to the sides of the roads. 

“Cones and message boards will be in place to advise motorists where they cannot park for the next day’s work,” Chankalian said.

Some major roads in Ortley Beach are now owned by the township. For example, the state Department of Transportation has jurisdiction on Route 35 and Ocean County has jurisdiction over Bay Boulevard.