Roads and utilities

Roads, paving and paths

The township rejected every bid for its 2026 road paving program twice, in August and September 2026, as over the amount allocated; the resolution cites record diesel and asphalt prices. The $1,410,317.80 Lake Road path and repaving project is under construction, with completion moved to Nov. 10, 2026.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

2026 paving bids rejected twice; Lake Road due Nov. 10 Last moved

What happens next

The Lake Road contract's completion date is Nov. 10, 2026. A rebid of the 2026 paving program, or Lake Road's close-out, would come before the Township Committee (meetings Nov. 10 and Nov. 24, 2026).

The 2026 paving program. The township advertised its 2026 Road Improvements contract twice and rejected every bid both times, “since the bid exceeds the amount allocated for this project.” On Aug. 25, 2026 it rejected seven bids, the lowest $2,098,774.00 from Reivax Contracting Corp. (Res. #2026-0383). On Sept. 29 it rejected five rebids, the lowest $2,284,399.60, again from Reivax; the resolution says “diesel and asphalt prices have hit record highs” and the project will be rebid “when bidding can be optimized” (Res. #2026-0409). Both votes were 4-0 (Asay, Hodges, Tompkins, Duarte McCarthy; McNally absent). New Jersey Hills Media reported in October that Township Engineer Thomas Timko said 15 streets were in the bid and the township would look to rebid next spring.

Lake Road. The Lake Road Improvement Project replaces and extends the path on the north side of Lake Road from South Finley Avenue to Mt. Airy Road, rebuilds retaining walls, brings ramps to ADA standards, adds curbing for grading and stormwater, and then mills, paves and re-stripes the whole road. DLS Contracting Inc. won it for $1,410,317.80, the lowest of three bids, on Oct. 28, 2025, paid from a $269,768 NJDOT Municipal Aid grant and $1,140,549.80 from Capital Ordinance #2556. Work began June 22, 2026; on Sept. 29 the Committee moved completion from Oct. 20 to Nov. 10, 2026, at no added cost, because of “unforeseen utility relocations” (Res. #2026-0408). The township’s Oct. 20 update says a full week of milling and paving will follow path paving.

Other road work. Renda Roads, Inc. holds a DPW road-repair contract of up to $1,025,000 (April 14), raised by $79,952.87 to $1,104,952.87 (July 28). The 2025 paving contract with Reivax ($1,443,110 original) reached $1,492,332.91 after three change orders; the Committee met in closed session on April 14 on “Potential Litigation - Reivax Road Improvements Contract,” and its Oct. 27 agenda lists a final change order of −$122,459.61 that would bring the contract to $1,369,873.30, $73,236.70 below the original award. The township had not posted minutes of the Oct. 27 meeting as of Nov. 1, 2026. The township has applied to NJDOT for $1,447,960 for Fairview Drive South, Wayne Terrace and Concord Lane (July 14).

Parking and stopping rules. On Oct. 13, 2026 the Committee adopted, 5-0, Ord. #2606 (school-day no stopping on Peachtree and Woodstone roads) and Ord. #2607 (no parking on parts of Church Street by the Liberty Corner Firehouse).

County roads. Roads with a 500- or 600-series route number, such as Allen Road (CR 652), Mount Airy Road (CR 525) and South Finley Avenue (CR 613), are county roads; see Allen Road safety.

What residents can do. Raise road conditions at public comment at Committee meetings; street-by-street detail is in the explainer. Corrections: info@localwhy.org.

Roads and paving, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved Lake Road path and repaving awarded to DLS Contracting for $1,410,317.80Res. #2025-0375 awarded the Lake Road Improvements to DLS Contracting Inc., lowest of three bidders, paid from a $269,768 NJDOT Municipal Aid grant and $1,140,549.80 from Capital Ordinance #2556. Adopted 3-0 (Asay, Fields absent).
  2. Resolved DPW road repairs awarded to Renda Roads, up to $1,025,000Res. #2026-0241 awarded DPW road repairs to Renda Roads, Inc. at its 2024 bid unit prices, up to $1,025,000.00, 4-0 (Asay absent). The Committee also met in closed session on potential litigation over the 2025 Reivax road contract.
  3. Pending Township applies to NJDOT for $1,447,960 for Fairview Drive South, Wayne Terrace and Concord LaneRes. #2026-0329 approved an NJDOT grant application for 1.06 miles of Fairview Drive South, Wayne Terrace and Concord Lane, requesting the full $1,447,960.00 estimate, 5-0. No award is in the record yet.
  4. Resolved All seven bids for the 2026 paving program rejected as over budgetRes. #2026-0383 rejected seven bids for 2026 Road Improvements, lowest $2,098,774.00 (Reivax Contracting Corp.), because "the bid exceeds the amount allocated for this project," with a rebid planned in 2026. Adopted 4-0 (McNally absent).
  5. Active Lake Road completion moved to Nov. 10 after utility relocationsRes. #2026-0408 extended the DLS Contracting completion date for Lake Road three weeks, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 10, 2026, at no additional cost, because "unforeseen utility relocations have caused delays." Adopted 4-0.
  6. Pending Paving rebids rejected; resolution cites record diesel and asphalt pricesRes. #2026-0409 rejected five rebids for 2026 Road Improvements, lowest $2,284,399.60 (Reivax), saying "diesel and asphalt prices have hit record highs" and the project will be rebid "when bidding can be optimized." Adopted 4-0 (McNally absent).
  7. Resolved School-day stopping ban on Peachtree and Woodstone roads; Church Street parking limitsOrd. #2606 bars stopping or standing on Peachtree Road and Woodstone Road on school days, 8:00–9:30 a.m. and 2:30–4:00 p.m.; Ord. #2607 bars parking on parts of Church Street east of the Liberty Corner Firehouse. Both 5-0.

Explainers

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Committee — October 27, 2026

    A regular meeting. The agenda lists recognitions of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and First Responders Appreciation Month, the reappointment of the shared municipal court judge, a final change order reducing the 2025 Reivax road contract by $73,236.70, and a snow removal contract. The township had not posted minutes of this meeting as of Nov. 1, 2026.

  • Township Committee — October 13, 2026

    The Committee adopted a filming permit ordinance (#2602), school-hours no-stopping rules on Peachtree and Woodstone Roads (#2606) and no-parking zones on Church Street near the Liberty Corner Firehouse (#2607), and accepted the $835,000.00 federal grant for the police communications upgrade, all 5-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — September 29, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee rejected the second round of bids for the 2026 road program, citing record diesel and asphalt prices, moved the Lake Road project's completion to November 10, 2026 at no added cost, and introduced the filming ordinance (#2602) and two traffic ordinances (#2606, #2607), all 4-0. One person spoke, on the Master Plan and the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — September 15, 2026

    With Hodges absent, the Committee adopted Ordinances #2604 and #2605, accepting two riparian conservation easements, tabled the introduction of a filming ordinance (#2602) to September 29, and approved an opioid-settlement-funded agreement with Community in Crisis, Inc., all 4-0. Four people spoke, one about historic preservation of the former Lord Stirling School.

  • Township Committee — August 25, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2603, a property maintenance ordinance for non-residential properties, 4-0 after a hearing at which five speakers supported it and one did not. It rejected all seven bids for the 2026 road program as over budget, ordered Motorola radios for the fire companies and emergency management (not to exceed $536,023.28) and met in closed session on Toll/Tavistock v. BTSA. Ten people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — July 28, 2026

    The Committee continued the community-based deer management program for 2026-2027, approved change orders on the Renda Roads repair contract (+$79,952.87) and the 2025 Reivax road program (+$31,701.57), and bought Public Works trucks, hooklift equipment and a van totaling about $851,000, all 5-0. Five people spoke, all on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — July 14, 2026

    The Committee adopted salary Ordinance #2601, authorized an online tax sale on or about October 6, extended the third-quarter tax grace period because the county had not released the tax rate, and applied for an $835,000.00 federal grant for police communications and $1,447,960.00 in state aid for three roads, all 5-0. Three people spoke, all on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — June 23, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2599, as amended with the Planning Board's recommendations, prohibiting data centers in all zones, and #2598, a new construction fee schedule, both 4-0. It certified the 2025 audit, extended Ridge Oak's tax abatement 40 years, awarded Pleasant Valley Park court improvements and introduced salary Ordinance #2601. Thirteen entries naming 15 people commented on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — June 9, 2026

    The Committee introduced the construction fee ordinance (#2598) and a salary ordinance (#2600), accepted two Somerset County FIFA World Cup grants ($164,100.00 and $50,000.00) and extended the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead lease to December 31, 2060, all 5-0. Three people spoke.

  • Township Committee — May 26, 2026

    The Committee introduced Ordinance #2599, amending the uses permitted in the E-1 to E-5 office zones, and referred it to the Planning Board, with a hearing set for June 23; it became the township's data center ban. It tabled the construction fee ordinance (#2598) to fix a typographical error, accepted a $72,394.53 Clean Communities grant and let the Farmstead's Friends apply for a county preservation grant, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — May 12, 2026

    The Committee adopted capital Ordinance #2597, $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for roads, drainage, fire and EMS equipment, radios, parks and police equipment, and easement Ordinance #2596. It urged state leaders to curb public employee health premium increases after a 36.25% State Health Benefits Plan rise, and made seven police appointments and promotions, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — April 14, 2026

    After a closed session on potential litigation over the Reivax road improvements contract, the Committee awarded Renda Roads up to $1,025,000.00 for road repairs, hired Boswell for MS4 stormwater mapping ($94,000.00), approved a Speed Sentry radar display loan from RideWise and two police vehicles, and introduced Ordinance #2595, all 4-0 with Asay absent. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — March 10, 2026

    With Tompkins absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2593, the Fourth Round affordable housing compliance rules, and capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00), and awarded synthetic turf replacement at Mountain Park ($960,826.00), a pavement condition assessment and a $250,000.00 federal funding request for stormwater planning, all 4-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — February 24, 2026

    The Committee adopted the 2026 Fourth Round Spending Plan for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and an agreement extending affordability controls on Ridge Oak's 247 age-restricted units for 40 years to 2072, introduced capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00) and received the Tax Collector's 2025 report, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — January 27, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance #2592, letting the 2026 budget rise up to 3.5% instead of 2% and banking any unused amount, and #2591, a wetlands easement. It hired Boswell for a Culberson Road storm sewer study ($40,500.00), joined the county recycling program at $28.16 per household and appointed Janice Fields to the Sewerage Authority, all 5-0. No members of the public spoke.

  • Township Committee — January 13, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee introduced Ordinance #2591, a wetlands easement on Rocky Lane, and #2592, the 2026 appropriation cap bank, approved a second change order on the 2025 road program and appointed three Pool Commission members, all 4-0. All three public speakers commented on Allen Road.

  • Township Committee — December 9, 2025

    With Mayor Fields absent, the Committee bought Motorola radios for both fire companies (not to exceed $500,058.05) and police video and body cameras ($73,372.00), set the 2026 Pleasant Valley Pool fees, ratified a 2025-2029 Teamsters Local 469 contract, reappointed the Tax Collector with tenure and introduced Ordinance #2590, all 4-0. Five people spoke, two on Allen Road.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Committee minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 (Res. #2026-0383, bids rejected)
  2. Township Committee minutes, Sept. 29, 2026 (Res. #2026-0408, #2026-0409)
  3. Township Committee minutes, Oct. 28, 2025 (Res. #2025-0375, Lake Road award)
  4. Lake Road Improvement Project information (township, Oct. 20, 2026)
  5. Township Committee minutes, April 14, 2026 (Renda road repairs; Reivax closed session)
  6. Township Committee minutes, Oct. 13, 2026 (Ords. #2606, #2607)
  7. Mayor's Newsletter, October 2026
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