TOWNSHIP OF PLAINSBORO
NJ Society of Municipal Engineers
Project of the Year Award
PROJECT HISTORY:
With the construction of the Plainsboro Road Bypass, now known as Scudders Mill Road in the 1980's and the bifurcation of Mapleton Road and Plainsboro Road by the NJDOT at US Route 1, the character of Mapleton Road transformed from a rural arterial roadway to a rural lane providing the sole access to the Delaware and Raritan (D & R) Canal Park in Plainsboro Township.
Given the proximity of Mapleton Road to Carnegie Lake, an impoundment of the Millstone River, and the D & R Canal, the roadway was subject to frequent and severe flooding requiring the closure of the roadway for extended periods of time. Accordingly, the Township sought improvement to the roadway which was under County jurisdiction. It was at that time that the Township commissioned Consulting Engineer Michael J. McClelland to begin discussions with the County relative to improving the roadway.
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS:
• ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSENSUS FOR THE PROJECT
• FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COST SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX
• IMPROVE PAVEMENT AS WELL AS INADEQUATE DRAINAGE ALONG THE ROADWAY
• OBTAIN ALL REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS FOR THE PROJECT
• COORDINATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE FOR THE STORMWATER
OUTFALLS
• COORDINATE THE USE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR THE REQUIRED MITIGATION PLANTINGS
• MINIMIZE DISTURBANCE TO EXISTING TRAFFIC PATTERNS DURING CONSTRUCTION
• DESIGN PROJECT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE AASHTO AND NJDOT DESIGN STANDARDS
UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL DESIGN FEATURES:
• EXTENSIVE PERMITTING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING N.J.D.E.P., DELAWARE AND
RARITAN CANAL COMMISSION, NEW JERSEY WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY, STATE HISTORICAL
PRESERVATION OFFICE AND FREEHOLD SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
• COORDINATION OF CONSTRUCTION TO MINIMIZE TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS
• IMPROVEMENT TO DRAINAGE CONDITIONS NOTWITHSTANDING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO LOCATION
OF ROADWAY WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN
• DESIGN INCORPORATED THE LOCATIONS OF 14 EXISTING STORM SEWER OUTFALLS TO LESSEN PERMITTING ISSUES
• INCORPORATION OF SUBMERGED OUTFALLS AND AESTHETIC TREATMENTS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE D&R CANAL COMMISSION'S MOST STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS
• CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED AROUND UNRELOCATABLE UTILITIES INCLUDING A 30" SANITARY SEWERAGE FORCE MAIN, 14" HIGH PRESSURE PETROLEUM PIPELINE AND FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS DUCTBANK
• INCORPORATION OF MITIGATION PLANTINGS TO ENHANCE A FUTURE PUBLIC PARK
THE RESULT:
Through the efforts of Michael McClelland and the Intergovernmental Cooperation of Plainsboro Township, Middlesex County and the various state agencies, a vital roadway providing the sole access to a State Park has been improved and flood mitigation, water quality, and other environmental improvements have been realized all to the benefit of Local, County and State residents.