Message from Mayor Stephen Dalina

As we celebrate the arrival of 2026, I want to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. This is a time for fresh starts, renewed optimism, and looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for our wonderful community.

Reflecting on the past year, I'm proud of what we've accomplished together to enhance public safety, improve our roads, embrace cost-saving green technologies and add new recreational amenities that benefit all Monroe residents.

Our ambitious initiatives will make our township an even better place to live, work, and retire.

Completed in 2025, Monroe Township delivered several important infrastructure and quality-of-life projects. These included the Old Bridge-Englishtown Road and Mounts Mills Intersection Improvements and new traffic signal as part of ongoing Middlesex County projects; our Annual Road Paving Program, which resurfaced 12 local roads and Inwood Estates pedestrian and roadway improvements funded through NJDOT Local Aid. And I’m happy to report that our Police Department has moved into their new addition.  

Each of these projects reflects careful planning and our continued commitment to safe, accessible, and well-maintained neighborhoods. 

Building on that momentum, several major projects are currently under construction.  Improvements are underway at James Monroe Park, including a new concession stand and park upgrades. At the Senior Center, construction is progressing on new pickleball courts and expanded parking lot. In addition, the Prospect Plains and Applegarth Road intersection improvements and traffic signal installation – also a Middlesex County project – is moving forward to improve traffic flow and safety.    

We are also gearing up for early spring with the next round of road and pedestrian upgrades which includes the Links Drive pedestrian and roadway improvement project, supported by NJDOT Local Aid funding.  In addition, we will be going out to bid in 2026 for improvements on the Monroe Township Community Garden.  

Town leaders are also embarking on a green energy upgrade to modernize our municipal facilities and greatly reduce energy costs. Work is set to begin in a few short weeks, with the anticipation of generating more than $21.7 million in savings and revenue over 20 years. 

The plan includes solar carports at the Monroe Township Public Library and the Public Works facility as well as rooftop solar systems on select municipal buildings. There also will be a floating solar array installed on a pond at the Monroe Township Utilities Department. Without these proactive upgrades, Monroe Township could face $25-32 million in electricity and natural gas costs over the next 20 years.

To conclude, I believe this year will be a landmark one for Monroe Township, as all the planning and preparation in 2025 will become reality in 2026. 

Please check back often to the municipal website – www.monroetwp.com – for the absolute latest information about our ongoing improvement projects.  

MTUD NOTICE TO RESIDENTS: 

Route 522 Water Tower Painting Project

The water tower located along Route 522 in Monroe Township will soon be painted as part of the Utility Department’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program. Over the next week or so, residents will notice crews mobilizing their equipment to erect scaffolding and place a protective barrier around the tank in preparation for the work. The painting project is anticipated to take approximately 4-6 months, weather permitting. 

What residents should know: 

• The barrier is a standard safety measure to contain dust and debris during painting.          
• During material and equipment delivery, traffic patterns may be slightly adjusted near the work area for very short periods of time; please follow posted signs and use caution when traveling through the area. 
• Nearby residents may experience minor noise during setup and painting hours. 
• Water service will not be interrupted during this project. 
• There will be no impact on water quality as a result of this project. 

Thank you for your patience as we complete this important infrastructure improvement that helps protect our community’s water system. 

Please contact the Monroe Township Utilities Department at 732-521-1700 with any questions or concerns.

© 2025 Township of Monroe, New Jersey