A Tale Of Two Roads: How Manalapan Decides What Roads To Repave

MANALAPAN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's a question residents across the Tri-State area ask all the time: why do some streets in their neighborhood get repaved and fixed, while others don't?

CBS 2's Christine Sloan went to Manalapan to find out.

It's the tale of two roads that intersect in the New Jersey town. Thomas Drive was just repaved and looks great. Terence Drive won't be getting that special treatment for at least another year.

Joe Occhipinti lives on the corner where the two streets meet.

"I think it is somewhat hilarious that you come out of your home, you go to the left and you have a paved road then you come to the right you don't have it," he said.

"It wasn't worthy of being paved I guess," said Carol Preschel.

Town officials said there is actually a reason why one road was repaved and the other wasn't and it all has to do with the town budget.

"Basically we triage the roads. The worst ones get done first," said Manalapan Director of Public Works Alan Spector.

And Terence Drive is not covered under this year's $2 million budget, Sloan reported.

The mayor said it's all about dollars and cents in their five-year plan to repair potholes and uneven roads.

His message to the residents living on the only road in the 30-year-old development that wasn't repaved?

"Just be patient. The road isn't crumbling, it is still in good shape," Manalapan Mayor Jordan Maskowitz said. "I wish we had the funds, but that would mean we'd have to raise taxes."

"I don't understand. It's a waste of money. You are in the development, it's not a large development. They should have all been done at the same time," Artie Kamberogia said.

Spector, however, said it doesn't work that way. He said just resurfacing the street cost $200,000 and that they were only able to repave about a dozen roads.

"It is basically how well did your developer build your road and how long did your road last?" Spector said is what residents across the Tri-State should really be asking before thinking the repaving of roads has anything to do with politics, Sloan reported.

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