Roads and utilities

Municipal roads and traffic

Branchburg's 2026 budget schedules $2,540,000 of road improvements within a $13,040,000 six-year capital line. In 2026 the Township bought resurfacing materials from Schifano Construction, paid it $996,214.10 for road resurfacing on two bill lists, adopted $1,348,000 in Public Works equipment ordinances, and is working with Norfolk Southern toward a permanent quiet zone at the Lehigh Road rail crossing.

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

Resurfacing paid to Schifano; $1.35M of DPW equipment adopted; Lehigh Road quiet zone awaits Norfolk Southern Last moved

What happens next

The Lehigh Road crossing plans await Norfolk Southern's approval, and residents have noted the temporary quiet zone runs to spring 2027. The Township has bid snow plowing services for the winter. Committee meetings are the second and fourth Mondays, 7 p.m., Municipal Building courtroom.

Branchburg maintains municipal roads through budgeted appropriations, a capital improvement program and Department of Public Works operations; the Township Committee’s minutes record the purchases, payments and ordinances behind them.

The capital plan. The 2026 adopted budget’s six-year capital program lists a road-improvements line totaling $13,040,000 for 2026–2031: $2,540,000 in 2026, $2,500,000 in 2027, and $2,000,000 in each of 2028 through 2031. The same program lists $2,200,000 for DPW equipment, $950,000 of it in 2026. The adopted budget’s current-year road-improvement capital line reads $1,300,000 — a different schedule from the capital program’s $2,540,000, which the budget does not reconcile.

Resurfacing in 2026. On May 11 the Committee authorized the purchase of road resurfacing materials from Schifano Construction Corporation (Resolution No. 2026-96, consent, 4–0). The bill lists the Committee approved include $562,847.36 (June 22) and $433,366.74 (Aug. 10) to Schifano Construction for road resurfacing. On Sept. 14 Mayor James Schworn said the Township had received positive feedback on Schifano’s paving in the Fox Hollow development.

Public Works equipment. On May 26 the Committee adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1514, 4–0, appropriating $1,018,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund for a street sweeper, a loader, a double drum asphalt roller and a mini asphalt track paver; the purchases followed on June 22 and July 13. On Sept. 14 it adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1517, 5–0, appropriating $330,000 from the capital fund balance for equipment including a replacement dump truck, after a truck was destroyed by fire.

The Lehigh Road rail crossing. Residents, several from Briar Way, have asked at 2026 meetings about the temporary quiet zone at the Lehigh Road crossing. Township Administrator Gregory Bonin said on April 27 that it is a two-year permit the Township would reapply for if the crossing is not yet improved, and on May 11 that closing the crossing would add about six minutes to emergency response. Norfolk Southern’s maintenance work at the crossing, which overlapped the Township’s planned upgrades, was complete by July 27; on Sept. 14 Mr. Bonin said the Township’s updated plans were with Norfolk Southern, whose approval the Township needs, and that the Township hopes construction can be done this year or early next year.

2025 spending. The 2025 audit reports road repair and maintenance appropriations of $1,746,000 in wages and $644,500 in other expenses, with $1,548,531.60 and $475,984.51 paid, snow removal at $235,000 budgeted and $211,095.79 paid, and a $1,000,000 road-improvement reserve with $997,762.50 expended.

Other matters. On Feb. 9 Mr. Bonin said NJDOT is aware of long delays at the Old York Road and Route 22 signal; on Sept. 14 the Committee agreed by consensus to have the Township Attorney draft an ordinance vacating a landlocked paper street at 2228 South Branch Road; and on Oct. 12 it authorized bids for snow plowing services (Resolution No. 2026-173, 3–0). Route 202 is a state highway (Route 202 safety) and the Picket Place bridge is a Somerset County project (Picket Place bridge).

Municipal roads and spending, explained

Timeline

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

  1. Milestone 2026 budget schedules $2,540,000 of road improvementsThe 2026 budget, which the Township Committee introduced on March 23, 2026 and adopted on April 27, 2026, 5–0, schedules $2,540,000 for road improvements in 2026 within a $13,040,000 six-year capital line, and $950,000 in 2026 for DPW equipment within a $2,200,000 line.
  2. Resolved Committee adopts $1.5 million in capital ordinances for police, fire and Public WorksThe Township Committee adopted four capital ordinances, each 4–0 with no public comment and paid from existing capital funds: No. 2026-1512 ($100,000, facility improvements), 2026-1513 ($240,000, police vehicles and equipment), 2026-1514 ($1,018,000, Public Works equipment) and 2026-1515 ($150,000, volunteer fire-company equipment).
  3. Pending Lehigh Road crossing: Norfolk Southern work done, Township plans submittedTownship Administrator Gregory Bonin said Norfolk Southern's maintenance work at the Lehigh Road rail crossing was complete and the Township's updated construction plans for a permanent quiet zone had been submitted to Norfolk Southern for approval.
  4. Milestone 2025 audit reports road-repair and snow-removal spendingThe 2025 Township audit, dated Aug. 3, 2026, reports road repair and maintenance appropriations of $1,746,000 in wages and $644,500 in other expenses, with $1,548,531.60 and $475,984.51 paid/charged, and a $1,000,000 road-improvement reserve of which $997,762.50 was expended.

Explainers

  • Branchburg's Municipal Roads and Spending, Explained

    What the 2026 capital program schedules for road improvements and Public Works equipment, what the Township Committee bought, paid and adopted in 2026 — resurfacing with Schifano Construction, $1,348,000 of equipment ordinances — what the 2025 audit says was spent, and where the Lehigh Road rail quiet zone stands.

Documents

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

Meetings

  • Township Committee — September 14, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1517, appropriating $330,000 from the capital fund balance for Public Works equipment including a replacement dump truck, 5–0, and introduced Ordinance No. 2026-1518, the $18,060,000 municipal annex bond ordinance, unanimously. Eleven consent resolutions, including acknowledgement of the 2025 municipal audit, and the claims passed 5–0. In public comment a resident asked the Township to weigh data centers' benefits and drawbacks before any ban, and members responded.

  • Township Committee — August 10, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1516, barring electric and motorized bicycles, scooters and motorcycles from park footpaths, walkways and trails, 5–0 with no public comment. It introduced Ordinance No. 2026-1517, spending $330,000 from the capital fund balance on Public Works equipment to replace a dump truck that caught fire, with a hearing set for September 14. Six consent resolutions, including a tree-planting contract and a bid for a co-location on the Township's 34 Kenbury Road cell tower, and claims of $10,693,929.56 passed 5–0.

  • Township Committee — July 27, 2026

    The Committee introduced Ordinance No. 2026-1516, limiting e-bikes and other motorized bicycles and scooters on park paths and fields, by unanimous vote with a hearing set for August 10. Four consent resolutions, including a playground purchase for White Oak Park, and claims of $848,106.59 passed 4–0 with Mrs. Columbus absent. A resident asked the Committee to consider an ordinance prohibiting data centers, and the Administrator reported that Branchburg is on the list for a $2.25 million federal Community Project Funding award for an Emergency Operations Center.

  • Township Committee — June 22, 2026

    The Committee passed Resolutions No. 2026-120 through 2026-131 as a consent agenda, 5–0, including a contract to sell Township real estate at 200 Harlan School Road and purchases of a drum roller, street sweeper and wheel loader for Public Works. Claims of $945,518.94 also passed 5–0. The Administrator reported that Norfolk Southern's work at the Lehigh Road rail crossing was underway and may cover almost all of the work the Township had planned there.

  • Township Committee — June 8, 2026

    The Township's consultant, Maurice Rachad of Colliers Engineering & Design, said Norfolk Southern maintenance work overlapping the Township's required Lehigh Road rail crossing upgrades should substantially finish the crossing improvements by the end of June. Consent Resolutions No. 2026-111 through 2026-119, including liquor and tower/wrecker license renewals and an air pack purchase for the North Branch Volunteer Fire Company, passed 5–0.

  • Township Committee — May 26, 2026

    The Committee adopted four capital ordinances, each 4–0 with no public comment: No. 2026-1512 ($100,000 for facility improvements), 2026-1513 ($240,000 for police vehicles and equipment), 2026-1514 ($1,018,000 for Public Works equipment) and 2026-1515 ($150,000 for volunteer fire-company equipment). Consent Resolutions No. 2026-101 through 2026-110 passed 4–0. The Administrator said final Lehigh Road rail crossing plans were going to Norfolk Southern for approval. Mr. Young was absent.

  • Township Committee — May 11, 2026

    After a public hearing with no comment, the Committee moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-1511, which assigns police tows per incident instead of weekly and adopts the New Jersey State Police towing rate schedule. It introduced four capital ordinances totaling $1,508,000, paid from capital funds, for building improvements, police vehicles, Public Works equipment and fire-company equipment. Consent Resolutions No. 2026-94 through 2026-100, including a settlement in Forlenza v. Township of Branchburg, passed 4–0. Mrs. Columbus was absent.

  • Township Committee — April 27, 2026

    The Committee held the public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget, at which no one spoke, and adopted it by Resolution No. 2026-88, 5–0, after passing Resolutions No. 2026-86 (the budget read by title) and 2026-87 (authorization for self-examination), each 5–0. It introduced Ordinance No. 2026-1511 to change the towing rotation and fee schedule. Two Briar Way residents asked about the temporary quiet zone at the Lehigh Road rail crossing.

  • Township Committee — February 23, 2026

    Meeting the day after a snowstorm, with Mrs. Columbus absent and Administrator Gregory Bonin appointed Acting Deputy Clerk, the Committee approved a police new hire and tax refunds, 4–0, and appointed Reinhard Pratt to a five-year term on the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority, 4–0. Two retirement commendations were postponed to March 9.

  • Township Committee — January 26, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1506, which renames the Parks and Open Space Committee the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Committee and adds recreation programs to its duties, 4–0 with no public comment and Mr. Beatrice absent. Its consent agenda, passed 4–0, included the 2026 escrow rates, the county curbside recycling agreement and a first amendment to a development and affordable housing agreement with Summit Developers, LLC.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Committee minutes, May 11, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  2. Township Committee minutes, May 26, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  3. Township Committee minutes, June 22, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  4. Township Committee minutes, August 10, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  5. Township Committee minutes, September 14, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  6. Township Committee minutes, October 12, 2026 (Documents-On-Demand, via the Agendas/Minutes page)
  7. 2026 Adopted Budget, capital budget and 2026–2031 capital improvement program
  8. 2025 Township Audit, road repair, snow removal and reserve expenditure schedules
  9. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (2023 title, annual review Sept. 10, 2024), sweeping program
  10. Public Works Department
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