The Harrison Township Committee addressed a number of concerns from residents of High Pointe in Mullica Hill at its Oct. 16 session.
They include manhole covers that are too high and can cause people to trip, as well as micro-surfacing, the application of a mixture to asphalt to preserve pavement structure that produces different textures on roads. Those problems were aired during the privilege of the floor portion of the meeting by area resident Al Szolack.
“A company came out and I guess lowered our manhole covers because they were too high,” he said. “Well evidently they didn’t lower them enough. Because if you come over to Strawbridge Lane and if you look up micro surfacing, all three lanes that they did are different textures, and when you look up the micro-surfacing, a neighbor of mine told me that they didn’t mix things properly.
“On Strawbridge Lane, my street,” Szolack added, “we had three lanes that were done. The center line is higher (and) has an extra coating of surface because they (workers) had to meet the manhole coverage, which they didn’t lower enough.”
Deputy Administrator Dennis Chambers responded to those comments by explaining the process of micro-surfacing and why the High Pointe manholes sit as high as they do.
“This (micro-surfacing) is considered to be a pavement preservation improvement,” he noted. “One could look at it as a driveway sealer, which was said to me out in the development. This stuff when it’s fully cured – it takes 14 days – is actually harder than asphalt.”
A traditional mill and paving of the neighborhood’s streets would have cost about $300,000, according to Chambers and township engineer Dennis McNulty. The micro- surfacing saved money for other projects.
“It’s not a new process,” Chambers pointed out. “But the expectation is never for it to turn out or look like what a traditional milled and paved road would be. The variations in color that they’re seeing out there right now, like I said, it takes 14 days for it to cure. Over time, a lot of what they’re seeing (in) the color will stabilize and will turn a blackish-blue, because of the color of the stone that’s mixed in.”
Chambers said the manhole covers problem has to do with when the neighborhood was built in 1991, when the manholes were built too high. While some have been lowered, others have not, since manhole repairs are not part of the micro-surfacing contract.
The public works department is working on the problem, but a time frame for that has yet to be determined. Excessively high manhole covers can also lead to vehicle damage and accidents.
High Pointe sits along Cedar Road and is in close proximity to Pleasant Valley Elementary School, Clearview Middle School and Clearview High School.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.
