(WHITE TWP., NJ – November 25, 2025) – Lommason Glen Road (County Route 626) reopened today after extensive repairs to rebuild a half-mile of road destroyed by flooding from a July 2023 storm.

The project also includes improvements to enhance the resiliency of the road to help prevent damage if future storms flood the tributary of Buckhorn Creek that runs alongside and under the road.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved with these reconstruction efforts. This project was a lot to take on and I’m excited for the road to be open,” Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski said. “This was a long process with many moving parts and our county staff, the engineers, and the contractors have all worked together to ensure that this massive reconstruction project delivered a safer and stronger road way for the residents of Warren County,” he added.

Commissioner Lori Ciesla remarked, “Battling the water flow from a river and not just repaving a road but rebuilding the side of a hill took a special attention to detail and I'd like to thank everyone who played a role in this project.”

“We thank the residents for their patience,” Warren County Public Work Director Emily A. Hammer said. “All residents with property fronting on Lommason Glen were considered in the implementation of the work, and inquiries from the community were addressed throughout the project as it progressed,” Hammer noted.

Following the 2023 storm, immediate repairs included closing a breach south of Hemlock Lane at Bridge Structure 23073 and erecting a retaining wall that more efficiently directed water flow to and through the bridge, with bank stabilization on the downstream side of the bridge. Further work upstream extended an existing retaining wall to contain water flow and protect the County’s road from undermining, and filled in a 20-foot-deep shoulder collapse that cut approximately halfway into one travel lane of the road. Fallen trees that could potentially cause future problems if left undisturbed were removed from the creek.

“The project included a significant regulatory approvals process with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection,” Hammer explained. “All work was performed with sensitivity to threatened and endangered species in the area, with a herpetologist visiting daily to ensure turtles did not enter the work zone. We also adhered to seasonal time restrictions for work in the stream, to protect native brook trout,” she added.

The stream was repositioned to its natural course, and pools already are returning that offer habitat to the area’s animal life.

 “We thank NJDEP for their cooperation throughout the project,” Hammer said.

The road rebuild includes significant safety improvements, with  more than 1,200 linear feet of guiderails and crash cushions installed, as well as increased signage and traffic markings. Resiliency improvements include a gentler slope to the stream banks to prevent storm erosion; more than 1,000 feet of vegetated soil stabilization material; installation of multiple cross drains; and a consistent 20-foot stream channel bank to bank.

Work included 1,200 linear feet of retaining wall protecting the road, supported by foundations that range from 2 feet to 5 feet deep, and approximately 1,200 linear feet of rip-rap filled gabion baskets. Native material from the stream bed was utilized to maintain the natural look of the local area.

The project team included Hammer and Jason Abelman from the Warren County Department of Public Works, Colliers Engineering and Design, and Sparwick Contracting, Inc.

Before and after photos of Lommason Glen Road