WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — A Warren County drainage improvement project has been named the County Public Works Project of the Year by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA), recognizing the county’s in-house engineering and repair efforts following devastating 2023 storms.
Representatives from the Warren County Department of Public Works, Division of Bridges and Roads accepted the award during the APWA New Jersey Chapter’s annual holiday and awards luncheon.
The honor recognizes excellence in the management and administration of an innovative public works project completed using in-house staff. County crews finished the project in November 2024 to address severe drainage issues in Harmony Township that threatened local homes, businesses and farming operations with repeated flooding.
The July 2023 storms that prompted the work brought more than a foot of rain in three days, causing widespread destruction across Warren County. More than 100 lane miles of roadway were damaged, and 33 bridge structures sustained damage or failed.
“The infrastructure devastation was sudden, profound and put the safety of tens of thousands of County residents in jeopardy as a network of once-quiet streams and creeks became raging rivers tumbling debris downstream,” the project nomination stated.
One of the worst-hit locations was along County Route 519 at the intersection of Roxburg Hill Road and Roxburg Station Road, where bridge structure #10007 clogged with debris and the deck collapsed, shutting down a major county artery. Following emergency repairs and reopening, county engineers crafted a long-term drainage solution to prevent similar failures.
The completed project installed 1,538 feet of 24-inch pipe, 120 linear feet of curb, and multiple drainage components, including four inlets, three manholes and a yard inlet along County Route 519 and Roxburg Station Road. The new system now diverts stormwater away from nearby homes and businesses, reducing the risk of future flooding.
Under Construction Crew Supervisor Ross Jean, a 12-person county Public Works crew completed the entire project in six weeks, logging 1,733 labor hours and eliminating the need for outside contractors.
Jean accepted the award along with Warren County Public Works employees Stephen Buckholtz and Richard Mantoni, Assistant Supervisor of Bridges and Roads Glen Matlock, and Supervisor of Bridges and Roads Calvin Inscho. The award was presented by APWA New Jersey Chapter Vice President South Kevin Bucceroni.
“This award reflects the resilience of Warren County,” Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski said. “The storms of 2023 caused unprecedented destruction, but our Public Works team refused to let that damage get the better of us. I’m proud of the dedicated professionals who turned a crisis into an opportunity to build better infrastructure for our residents.”
Sarnoski, the commissioner liaison for Public Works, added, “I want to thank Crew Supervisor Ross Jean and the entire team for their outstanding work. This award is well-deserved, and we are fortunate to have such capable professionals working for Warren County.”
