BATS
Bat activity typically increases from May through September. For further information on bats, click here

Click here for Lyme Disease Prevention Message

BEARS
Bears are becoming a greater problem with humans here in the Garden State. This is due to the increased numbers of humans in wilder areas, increasing the chances of contact with the natural bear population. Within the past few years, bears have been observed in surrounding communities to Bridgewater, including Manville, Peapack, and Readington, and other more populated places to the east such as South Brunswick, North Brunswick, and New Brunswick. More recently, aggressive behavior from bears has been reported in New Jersey. In 2003, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recorded two aggressive contacts with humans. Fortunately, only minor injuries were reported in these instances.

These interactions between wild animals and humans are certainly not new, but they can be prevented. The three most important methods of preventing injuries to either yourself or an inquisitive bear are:

1. NEVER place yourself between a mother bear and her cub(s);
2. DO NOT run. Bears can run as fast as 30 mph, and they can climb trees.
3. ALWAYS make as much noise as possible. Yell as loud as you can, bang pots, and scream.

Following these simple rules will allow chance encounters with bears to have a positive outcome. Bears are not vicious creatures. If one happens to find its way into your backyard, it is either being inquisitive, or is simply trying to find a different place to live, since it probably got kicked out of the place where it was before. By scaring it away from your house, it will know not to go back there. In addition, the NJ DEP suggests that keeping garbage, pet foods, and bird feeders secured from bears can reduce the number of problem incidents
Click here for more information on bears.

DEER REPELLENTS
The proper use of repellent sprays along with deer-resistant landscaping techniques may help to significantly reduce the impact of deer browsing on residential properties in the Township. There are many brands of deer repellents commercially available. Click here to learn how to reduce your risk of deer collisions.

HUNTING
Interested property owners can allow deer hunting on their property by having a licensed hunter complete the “Hunt Smart Courtesy Card” (click to download) from the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife. This card must be completed by both the property owner and hunter. Each party should keep their half of the card, which serves as a legal document allowing temporary use of the property for hunting.

Sports hunters are required to comply with all state laws and local ordinances. Furthermore, all safety procedures must be applied as outlined in the New Jersey Hunter Education Program. Further details on sports hunting regulations may be found at the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

COYOTE SIGHTINGS ON THE RISE
Coyote sightings are on the rise in Somerset County. These predators have been known to attack dogs, cats, and other small pets. Residents are encouraged to learn more about coyote habits by clicking on the following link

AVIAN INFLUENZA (Bird Flu)
Information on Bird Flu | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)

For more information on any of the above topics, please contact the Bridgewater Health and Community Services office at (908) 725-6300 ext. 5200 or by email at health@bridgewaternj.gov .

The Division of Public Works is comprised of five (5) Departments; Road, Sewer, Building and Grounds, Parks and Fleet Maintenance.

It is the mission of Bridgewater Public Works to provide:

• Effective street maintenance
• Storm and sanitary sewer management
• Environmentally responsible drainage
• Yard waste management
• Accessible secure and properly maintained buildings
• Clean and safe parks
• Maintenance of entire fleet of Township vehicles and equipment

Functions of Public Works include but are not limited to the following:

Repair of potholes, patching of roads, sweeping of streets, repair of inlets and catch basins, maintenance of street and traffic signs and removal of dead deer from roads. Maintenance of sanitary sewer main lines, cleaning of flow channels and catch basins/inlets. Ground maintenance in parks, properties and facilities and maintenance/repair of all Township owned vehicles and equipment.

Take note of our address and phone number:

411 Chimney Rock Rd.
Building A
Bound Brook, NJ 08805
908-725-6300 Ext. 6000

Mailing Address:

100 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

If you have any questions please call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov

For any questions relating to sewer bills, please contact our Tax Collector’s office at (908) 725 – 6300 x5145 or taxcollector@bridgewaternj.gov.

No curbside pickup is available from the Public Works Division.

Dead Deer Pickup

Bridgewater Township contracts with a service to remove dead deer from resident’s living spaces on their property or Township roadways.   Once the contractor is notified, they have 48 business hours to remove the deer.  Our policy for removal of deer only apply to areas considered part of the living space for residents such as yards or gardens.  An animal that is deceased in the woods or natural areas is left to decompose naturally.  This is beneficial for the ecosystem as it provides nutrients for the soil and food for other wildlife. This also helps us to manage costs effectively, as removing and disposing of deer in this type of setting would use taxpayer money for a non-essential removal.

Christmas Tree Drop Offs

Bridgewater Township will provide drop-off locations for real Christmas trees from December 26, 2024 through January 31, 2025. These locations are open seven days a week from 8 am to 4 pm.

• Ardmaer Park
• Chimney Rock Park
• Thomae Park
• Cedarbrook Park

Residents may also bring their real Christmas trees to the Yard Waste Facility located at 136 Foothill Road. The facility’s regular operating hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 3:45 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 1:30 pm. Their winter operating hours will be January 13^th through March15^th from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. The facility will be closed on all Saturdays from January 1^st through March 15^th.

Christmas Tree Recycling Guidelines

• All decorations, lights, wires, tinsel, and other objects should be removed from the tree prior to drop-off.
• Only natural trees will be accepted. Do not drop off wreaths, garland, or artificial trees.
• Group deliveries and trees from vendors will not be accepted.
• Trees should be piled neatly and as close together as possible at the drop-off location.

Somerset County is also offering two drop-off locations, which will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Colonial Park Gardens, located at 156 Mettlers Road, Parking Lot F, in Somerset (Franklin Township).
• North Branch Park, located at 355 Milltown Road, at the lighted baseball field, in Bridgewater.

If you have any questions, please call the Bridgewater Public Works Dept. at (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov.

POTHOLES
If you should come across a pothole on a Bridgewater road, please report it to our Public Works Division by using our online form here or by calling (908)-725-6300 Ext. 6000 or sending an e-mail to publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov. Please give us the location of the pothole so that we can repair it immediately.

If the pothole is on a county road, call Somerset County at (908) 541-5021 or click on this link to complete an online roadway complaint inspection form.

If the pothole is on a state highway, call the New Jersey Department of Transportation at (609) 292-4347 or click on this link.

THE SENIOR BRUSH PICK-UP PROGRAM

The Senior Brush Pick-Up Program has concluded for the 2024 season.

Senior Brush Pick-Up is a program that offers brush pick-up for Bridgewater homeowners aged 65 or older. The program allows Bridgewater seniors to call the Department of Public Works (DPW) to schedule pick-up of sticks, twigs, branches, and small limbs. To be eligible for the program, the senior must be the actual homeowner of the property. Proof of age and eligibility is required. We will provide a pick-up service on Thursdays beginning in April and ending the last week in October. Please follow the guidelines listed below:

• Brush must be five feet or less in length.
• Logs and limbs must be six inches or less in diameter.
• Brush piles must be stacked neatly in one direction at the curb line.
• Friends, family, neighbors, and landscape contractors may not add to your brush pile.
• In lieu of a pile, brush can be placed in brown biodegradable bags. Limit of five bags. Plastic bags are not acceptable.
• Your brush pile may not be any larger than 7 feet in length, 5 feet in width, and 4 feet in height. Additionally, only one pile may be placed on your property for each scheduled pick-up.
• Grass, mulch, leaves, dirt, roots, and stumps will not be collected.
• Tree contractors hired to remove storm debris and trees must remove the resultant debris.

This program is not intended for DPW to function as a tree removal service. If the above conditions are not met, the items cannot be picked up. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. To make a reservation, please call DPW at 908-725-6300 ext. 6000.

Please note that yard waste may also be dropped off at the Bridgewater Township Yard Waste Facility located at 136 Foothill Road.

For further information please click – https://www.bridgewaternj.gov/yard-waste/

THE LEAF BAGS AND CURB-SIDE COLLECTION PROGRAM

Please Note:  We have exhausted our supply of leaf bags for the 2024 season.

Township regulations require that leaves be bagged if they are intended for pick-up by the Township. Leaf bags are available beginning October 1^st at the Public Works Department located at 411 Chimney Rock Road, Building A. The hours of distribution will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. while supplies last. Be advised that the electronic gates lock at 3 p.m. Residents will be required to show proof of Bridgewater residency. Additionally, residents may only pick up bags for their home address. They may not retrieve bags for relatives or neighbors.

Only leaves should be placed in the brown leaf bags. Grass clippings, ornamental grasses, sticks, brush, and other materials will not be picked up. Residents are encouraged to bring those items to the township’s Yard Waste Facility. Leaf bags should not block traffic, drainage ways, or catch basins.

Bagged leaves will be picked up continuously on a rotating basis between November 1^st and December 31^st, weather permitting. The curbside collection of leaf bags will end December 31^st. Place your final leaf bags on your curb line by December 23^rd in anticipation of the final pick-up.

Residents may continue to drop-off their leaf bags and other acceptable yard waste at the Township’s Yard Waste facility located at 136 Foothill Road behind Costco. If you have any questions, please call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov.

SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS

The Public Works Division wants to remind residents that portable basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. must be removed from the roadways including cul-de-sacs for snow plow operations.  They should be far enough away from the curb or edge of pavement so that they will not hang over the edge.

During snow events, we request that cars be placed in driveways and off the street.  Trash cans and recycling containers should also be kept off the roadways as the plow driver may not see these obstacles or may go around those obstacles leaving these areas unplowed.  The Township will not be responsible for any damage to trash cans, recycling containers, basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. damaged during snow plow or salting operations.  It is the owner’s responsibility to have these items relocated or removed.

In general, the snow plow procedure during the storm is to clean the center of the roadway, to provide access to all roads in an area.  Once the storm is over the driver will then proceed to clear the roadway curb to curb (edge to edge of pavement) on each street in the area.  Depending on the rate of snowfall we may need to open the center of all the roadways in an area first, delaying the full width clearing to a later time in the snow event. If the roadway has not been cleaned curb to curb, be aware that the front of your driveway maybe covered with snow as the plows complete their work. Please be aware that major roads are plowed first before local residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

If you have any questions please call (908) 725-6300 ext. 6000.

SNOW REMOVAL (SIDEWALKS)

Owners or tenants of any land next to Township public streets must remove all snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours of daylight after snowfall has stopped. Snow should be kept on the owner’s property and not moved into the street so that traffic safety is not impacted. If the sidewalk is covered with ice that the owners or tenants cannot remove, the sidewalk must be thoroughly covered with sand, ashes or rock salt within 24 hours after the snowfall has stopped.

Snow that is not removed from sidewalks or ice that is not treated within the time provided above may be removed or treated by the Public Works Division at the homeowner’s expense.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

The federally mandated, national phone number, 811, helps prevent you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines. Before you begin projects that involve digging, dial 811 to locate underground electric, gas or other utility lines. Digging without this information can cause power outages, and it’s extremely dangerous. Simply tell the 811 operator where you’re planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing, and your local utility companies will be notified. Within a few days, they will mark the location of underground lines.

Please call at least three days in advance to avoid unnecessary delays to your project. Know what’s below – Call before you dig!

 For more information, visit http://www.call811.com.