Nearly $1M Granted To Red Bank For Lead Service Line Replacement

RED BANK, NJ — The borough will receive $959,752 in federal funds for its ongoing lead service line replacement project.

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, announced recently that he secured $16,383,535 in funding for 13 projects he submitted to the Appropriations Committee for New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District, including the Red Bank project.

And Red Bank officials said they were thrilled to hear the news:

"This incredible support will significantly contribute to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community," the governing body said in a Facebook post, referring to the $959,752 in federal monies. "Our gratitude goes out to Congressman Pallone from Mayor Billy Portman and the entire governing body on behalf of all Red Bank residents."

The borough said the funding will directly offset the borough's capital outlay in the program.

Red Bank's Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement Plan began with an inventory completed in July 2022, according to online borough documents on the project.

Borough Manager James Gant explained more about the status of the project:

First, he said the inventory as of Feb. 22, 2024 shows 2,598 unknown lines; 986 non-lead and 480 lead/galvanized lines, for a total of 4,064.

He said Phase 1 consists of approximately 290 lead service line replacements, with work taking place in the Census tract primarily west of Maple Avenue (called tract 803400). You can see a full report with maps on the project here.

Approximately 1,000 test pits were and are to be conducted to identify unknown lines, Gant said.

The program has 50 percent principal forgiveness and was awarded to Montana Construction Corp. for $2,686,750, Gant said. An additional 100 partial water service replacements were also funded for $461,500.

Restoration of the construction area, which includes asphalt patching on sidewalks and replacing concrete sidewalks, topsoil, seeding and mulching will take place now that the weather is warming and is anticipated to be complete before June 30, Gant said.

Phase 2 of the project will be broken out into two parts, he explained, with work in the west and east side areas:

Bid A will consist of 160 full-length service replacements and 45 partial replacements with 50 percent principal forgiveness, estimated at $1.8 million.

Bid B will consist of test pitting the remainder of the town with approximately 2,700 test pits, 75 water service replacements for emergencies encountered and no principal forgiveness at approximately $2.5 million, according to Gant.

You can see a borough document explaining more facts about the project and facts about lead here.