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Roads and Paving in Hillsborough: The 2026 Program, Montgomery Road and the Grants
Hillsborough repaves roads by yearly contract, treats others with chip seal and similar surfaces, and uses state grants for single roads. The 2026 repaving contract ($695,616.65) started in September. Montgomery Road has been discussed since 2025, when the Committee compared the cost of chip seal with full paving; a resident and the Sourland Conservancy objected in July 2026, and the Committee approved a $186,392.70 chip-surface treatment for Montgomery Road in September. Farm Road has a $505,903 state grant, and Flemming Drive is getting new sidewalks.
How Hillsborough takes care of its roads
Township roads are maintained three ways:
- A yearly repaving contract. The township bids out milling and repaving of a list of streets.
- Pavement preservation. Public Works extends the life of other roads with chip seal, cape seal and micro seal, bought through state and county cooperative contracts.
- State grants. NJDOT’s Municipal Aid program pays for work on single roads. NJDOT pays 75% of a grant when the town awards a contract and the rest when the project is finished.
State and county roads, including Route 206 and county routes such as Amwell Road, are not the township’s to pave. Route 206 is covered under Route 206.
2025: what was done
- Repaving. The 2025 program repaved Kilmer Drive, Beverly Drive, Fern Way, Gail Court, Briar Way, Scott Drive, Barbara Drive, Arlene Court, Matthew Road, Daniel Drive, Walnut Grove Road, Falcon Crest Lane, the rest of Falcon Road, Township Line Road and Auten Road between the railroad and Triangle Road. Part of Bloomingdale Drive was paved; the township said it would seek a state grant for the rest.
- Grants. NJDOT grants of $438,435 for Auten Road and $356,411 for Dukes Parkway West paid for more than half of those two jobs, the township reported. The Brown Avenue project, paid for with “$1.9 million in grant money,” was reported complete.
- Preservation. The township reported in September 2025 that Asphalt Paving Systems had finished “over seven miles of pavement preservation work,” a mix of chip seal, cape seal and micro seal. Dutchtown-Zion Road was chip-sealed under a separate contract of up to $55,000.
2026: the repaving contract and Flemming Drive
On July 28, 2026 the Committee unanimously approved, as part of its consent agenda:
| Resolution | Work | Contractor | Amount | Bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-234-2026 | 2026 Capital Roadway Paving | Top Line Construction | $695,616.65 | Lowest of 5 |
| R-232-2026 | Flemming Drive Phase 2 sidewalk replacement | Cedar Contracting | $253,070 | Lowest of 7 |
Repaving began the week of September 7 on Strawberry Lane, Chamberlain Drive, Van Fleet Court, Harman Court and Herder Drive. The township said the contractor would contact residents about delays.
The Flemming Drive sidewalks took two tries. In November 2025 the Committee rejected the only bid, from Cedar Contracting, because it “substantially exceeds the Township’s cost estimate and appropriations budgeted for the project,” and ordered a rebid (R-306-2025). The July 2026 award went to the same company.
Montgomery Road
Montgomery Road in Hillsborough (not the neighboring township) has an unpaved stretch that residents have asked the township to pave.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 27, 2025 | A Montgomery Road resident asked the Committee to make paving the unpaved section a priority |
| June 24, 2025 | Residents described dust and ditches “2-3 feet deep.” The mayor at the time said full paving would cost about $1.5 million and chip seal about $100,000 |
| 2025 | Montgomery Road and Wertsville Road became a four-way stop after a traffic study |
| Oct 14, 2025 | A Committee report thanked Public Works for the chip seal on Montgomery Road |
| July 28, 2026 | A Montgomery Road resident “spoke in opposition to the chip sealing program and concerns over safety and flooding.” The Sourland Conservancy’s executive director “spoke in opposition to the chip seal project” |
| Aug 25, 2026 | The Committee approved buying crushed stone and sand “for Montgomery Road” from Tilcon New York, up to $15,750 |
| Sept 8, 2026 | The Committee unanimously approved “Asphaltic Oil and Chip Surface Treatment” of Montgomery Road by Asphalt Paving Systems through state contract #24-GNSV2-103435, up to $186,392.70 (R-292-2026) |
The minutes summarize the July objections in one line each; the full remarks are in the meeting video. The September resolution says only “Montgomery Road,” so it does not show which section will be treated or whether it is the gravel stretch.
Farm Road and Bloomingdale Drive
Farm Road. In June 2025 the township applied for state aid to improve Farm Road from Route 206 to Triangle Road. In December 2025 NJDOT awarded $505,903 from its fiscal 2026 Municipal Aid program. The township said the work would include upgrading curb ramps at intersections to current ADA standards and installing enhanced crosswalks. On January 27, 2026 the Committee unanimously hired Pennoni to prepare the plans and specifications NJDOT requires, for up to $40,300 (R-37-2026).
Bloomingdale Drive. On June 9, 2026 the Committee approved an application for a fiscal 2027 Municipal Aid grant to finish Bloomingdale Drive (R-186-2026). NJDOT announced its last two rounds of awards in mid-November (November 14, 2024 and November 17, 2025).
What is not known
- Whether the Montgomery Road chip-surface work has been done, and on which section.
- What exactly the Sourland Conservancy and the resident objected to beyond the minutes’ summary.
- When Farm Road construction will start.
- Whether the Bloomingdale Drive grant will be awarded.
- When the Flemming Drive Phase 2 sidewalks will be finished.
- Which roads are on the 2027 list.
What residents can do
- Check your road. The township’s Engineering page links to a road-condition dashboard prepared by Pennoni. Questions about the repaving go to the Engineering Department at 908-369-4460.
- Speak at a Township Committee meeting. Public comment is open at every meeting; the remaining 2026 dates are November 10 (special, 6:30 pm), November 24 and December 15 (7:30 pm), at 379 South Branch Road. Comments can also be submitted in writing through the link on each agenda.
- Watch for the state grants. NJDOT posts Municipal Aid awards on its Local Aid site.
- Request the records. Through the Township Clerk (OPRA): the 2027 paving list once drafted, and the scope of the Montgomery Road chip-surface work.