Allen Road/Schley Mountain Road Repaving to Extend into Bedminster

Somerset County now plans to pave the entire length of Allen Road, from Somerville Road at the Bernards Township entrance to The Hills development, all the way into Bedminster, where it becomes Schley Mountain Road, and down to the Route 287 North on ramp, according to the county engineering department.

The county is seeking bids for the project on July 31, Rich Lazicky, who heads the construction division for engineering department, said on Monday.

The paving job is expected to take place in September or October, Lazicky said.

Bedminster Township officials were informed of the project this week, and Township Administrator Judy Sullivan updated the Township Committee at Monday night's meeting.

As in Bernards Township, where the Township Committee last week gave the county permission to conduct overnight road construction from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., the county will ask Bedminster Township officials to repave overnight, Lazicky said.

Bedminster Committee members did not yet vote on giving approval on Monday. However, Bedminster Township Committeeman Lawrence Jacobs said he anticipates township officials will approve the overnight work in Bedminster as well.

The road work proceeds at a much faster pace overnight without traffic, Lazicky said.

As had officials in Bernards, Lazicky said that the county's contractors "move fast," and the project could be done in a "a couple of nights."

After the old pavement is removed, milling and paving is often done in the same area on the same night, Lazicky said.

"Most folks will only be disturbed for one night," Bernards Township Engineer Timko said last week.

Both Lazicky and Timko said the project was put on the books when the cancellation of another road project left an unexpected opening.

Bernards Township Deputy Mayor John Carpenter last week said the concession of granting a noise waiver is worth it in order to take up the county's offer to do the job this year.

"Let's strike while the iron is hot," Carpenter said.