Security concerns prompt possible road closure around Round Valley Reservoir

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – The New Jersey Water Supply Authority, which operates Round Valley Reservoir, intends to ask the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners to permanently close a road around the reservoir because of security concerns.

But the issue has unleashed a torrent of opposition by neighbors, who not only say the closure would be an inconvenience but also doubt the authority's concerns about security.

"If there has been a threat to security," Old Mountain Road resident Pete Geiger asked at the Township Council's July 13 meeting, "how come it has been open?"

For more than an hour on July 13, neighborhood residents told the council that they oppose the plan to close County Road 629 south of the intersection with Old Mountain Road.

"Something fishy is going on," said Stanton Mountain Road resident Robert McInernery. "This homeland security BS is not going to fly."

He added that the authority is "fear mongering."

"If it's a significant threat, don't you think we should be prepared?" said Willow Brook Lane resident John Papa. "I love that road."

Also see:Scuba divers working underwater in Round Valley Reservoir project

"There are so many reasons to keep that road open," said Mountain Road resident Robert Quinlan, a retired police chief. "I haven't heard any valid reason to close it."

The road has been closed since April 2020 during the refurbishment of the reservoir's dam system. The road, known as Cherry Street in Lebanon Borough, approaches the reservoir through a one-lane underpass under NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, then circles around the crest of state's largest reservoir in one of Central Jersey's most scenic drives on top of one of the dams.

The authority, in a statement provided to the township, said though specific details cannot be shared, "a very serious threat to earthen dams by bad actors would be facilitated by vehicular access to the structure."

If the dam fails, the authority said, it "would have catastrophic impacts on downstream residents and water supply to over one million people in central New Jersey."

Round Valley and Spruce Run reservoirs provide water through the Raritan River to New Jersey American Water's pumping stations in Bridgewater and Franklin.

The authority has asked Clinton Township and Lebanon Borough to provide letters of support for the proposal.

But Mayor Brian Mullay said that the township has decided not to write a letter until the authority provides more information.

Mullay acknowledged that the permanent closure of the road would be a "huge inconvenience," especially for those residents on Old Mountain Road who use the road to get to Route 31 and Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township.

The mayor told residents that this is "the beginning of a long process" and the final decision will be made by the county commissioners.

The authority has not yet made a formal request to the county for the permanent closure of the road.

The authority said the road would remain open only to pedestrians and bicyclists. Keys to the gates would be provided to Clinton Township, Lebanon Borough and Hunterdon County emergency responders, the authority said.

The authority also said that it has received "verbal support" for the plan from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Dam Safety.

Thomas McCaffrey, chairman of the township's Zoning Board of Adjustment, agreed with the mayor that the township needs more information before deciding to support the plan.

"It's way too early," he said.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Round Valley Reservoir operator wants Cherry Street permanently closed