County Executive Dennis Levinson empathizes with motorists who encounter delays and uneven road surfaces along Shore Road due to utility work.
“I hear complaints from residents who rely on this roadway for their daily travels and are frustrated by the continued disruptions and condition of the roadway surface,” stated Levinson, “and frankly, I do not blame them. After the utility companies complete their work, and with sufficient time for settlement, they are required to restore the roadway to its original condition, but that does not appear to be happening.”
The county executive explained that the length of Shore Road from Somers Point to Pleasantville was paved by the county several years ago, but work by utility companies, for gas, water, electric and cable infrastructure improvements, has required periodic, and often poorly timed and coordinated, openings of the roadway to allow for this work.
“Shore Road seems to be constantly torn up in one location or another for work by utility companies. It is not the county that is doing this, but many people assume if it’s our road, it’s our work.”
According to Levinson, additional funding for infrastructure improvements became available following the COVID pandemic which has contributed to more projects by utility companies that require roads to be dug up for replacement of water and gas mains, electrical and cable conduits, and more.
“While we welcome these infrastructure improvements, we would expect better coordination of projects so roads are not dug up multiple times. If they can coordinate work for private projects, why can’t they do so for road openings? The county spent millions of dollars to pave Shore Road but you’d never know it.”
“It’s disgraceful,” added Levinson. “The companies opening the roadway need to properly close it. It’s a simple as that. The law requires any road opening to be returned to its original condition after a period of settlement. The safety of our motorists depends on it.”
