Community Corner

Culvert on Turnpike Still Clogged, Flood Water Slow to Recede

A clogged pipe on Turnpike Authority owned land has contributed to flooding to homes in that area.

N.J. Turnpike officials say they’re still trying to get access to a clogged drain pipe that has caused a culvert to overflow and flood between 10 and 15 homes on Vanderwater Court and Dutch Road during Hurricane Irene.

“We sent a contractor out to remove part of the sound wall and excavate debris,” N.J. Turnpike spokesman Thomas Feeney said Wednesday morning. “As of this morning the water has receded by about 21 inches since work began, but it’s still to high for our engineers to go in and take a look at the culvert.”

Mayor David Stahl, who toured the area this week with Sen. Barbara Buono, said the pace of the work indicates that the N.J. Turnpike hasn’t made the project a priority, despite the damaged caused to residents. Debris in the area has meant that water that was as high as 20 feet has been slow to recede.

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“We’ve been promised lots of action, but two days later we’re still watching the turnpike remove sound walls to get equipment in there,” said Mayor Stahl. “The pace of the work indicates that they have not made it a top priority. I don’t understand what takes so long to take down a portion of wall when people’s homes are destroyed. If the water had not receded at all it would have damaged one of the township’s pumping stations.”

Feeney said the Turnpike Authority is trying to work faster and will assess whether the drain contributed to the flooding.

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“We’re trying to accelerate the drainage because we want to be good neighbors and do what we can to help. Once the water level is down, we’re going to do a drainage and run-off evaluation to see if the Turnpike has contributed to the flooding.”

Mayor Stahl said the culvert is on Turnpike owned land, which means East Brunswick can’t go in and take the walls down or clear the drain. Even if it could, the township doesn’t have the equipment or manpower to do it.

“(The water) has receded on its on naturally, but clearly something is blocking the flow of water. They just need to make an extra effort to make it happen. Just a little extra effort. That’s all that’s needed.”


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