Fixing Infrastructure Will Save on Town Sewer Bills

Written by Jack Archibald Thursday, 02 July 2009 00:47

Columns - Body Politic

Fixing infrastructure is a costly undertaking but the rewards can be gigantic savings for municipalities.  Atlantic Highlands is about to embark on a long awaited project that should pay dividends in a very short time.  While the project is not particularly thrilling, it will solve a problem that has been costing our borough every time it rains.

The project is known as the Seventh Avenue under drain and it will be started within the next few weeks.  Residents that live east of First Avenue may be aware that every time Atlantic Highlands receives a shower, much of the water drains towards the intersection of Route 36 and Seventh Avenue.  There have been numerous flooding problems in the vicinity and residents of that area have been inconvenienced by the inordinate amount of water that collects there.  The Mayor and Council recently authorized a fix for the problem with passage of Ordinance 12.

Prior to the project, water has been seeping into the sewage system and our flows to the Sewer Authority have been astronomical.  Over a span of four to six weeks, a new pipe will be rerouted under Route 36 to direct the water into Many Mind Creek on the south side of the highway. The pipe will be about six to eight feet in depth and a meter will be installed prior to construction to monitor our flows.  Presumably, there will be a significant reduction in our flow after the project is completed and we should see a reduction in our rate from the Sewer Authority.

The borough is ready to move on the project and has awarded the contract to Mark Vascheck.

Mr. Vascheck has worked in the borough before, and has proven to be a reliable and cost effective contractor. It is hard to get excited about public work projects and infrastructure, but this is a long overdue fix that will ultimately decrease our costs in regards to the Sewer Authority.  And in times like this, any savings that our town can realize is something to be excited about.  This is a short term project that is going to pay long term dividends to our borough.

Correction- Last week's column incorrectly identified the Atlantic Highlands Sailing Education web site.  The correct address is www.ahsep.org