Major investment targets lead service replacement, system reliability, and long-term public health protection for residents and businesses
Haddon Township is preparing to move forward with a comprehensive $10 million water infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening the community’s drinking water system and accelerating the replacement of aging service lines along one of the municipality’s most heavily traveled corridors.
Municipal officials have confirmed that the township will utilize low-interest financing through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to fund a multi-phase program focused on inspecting, upgrading, and replacing lead and galvanized steel residential service connections, as well as a major section of water main running beneath Cuthbert Boulevard.
The project represents one of the township’s most significant utility investments in recent years and comes as municipalities across South Jersey continue to confront the long-term consequences of aging underground infrastructure installed decades before modern water quality and reliability standards were established.
Under the proposed financing plan, township engineers will begin a systematic inspection and verification program for private and publicly owned water service lines serving homes and businesses along the Cuthbert Boulevard corridor. Where lead or galvanized steel piping is identified, the township will coordinate full replacements designed to meet current state and federal drinking water standards.
Local officials say the program is structured to prioritize both public health protection and long-term system resilience. Lead and galvanized service lines, which remain in older housing stock throughout the region, are known to degrade over time and pose risks to water quality if left unaddressed. The planned work will eliminate those materials entirely and replace them with modern piping designed to improve flow, pressure stability, and long-term durability.
In addition to individual service connections, the project will also replace an aging water main segment beneath Cuthbert Boulevard, a key east–west transportation route that supports daily commuter traffic, local businesses, and emergency response operations. Township engineers have cited recurring maintenance concerns and limited capacity in the existing main as factors driving the replacement schedule.
By pairing service line upgrades with a full water main reconstruction, the township expects to significantly reduce the likelihood of future breaks, unplanned shutdowns, and roadway disruptions. Officials also anticipate improved fire flow capability along the corridor, an important public safety benefit for commercial properties and multi-family residences in the surrounding area.
The financing structure through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank allows the township to spread the cost of the improvements over time while securing interest rates substantially lower than traditional municipal bond offerings. Township administrators said the approach helps shield local taxpayers from large short-term rate increases while ensuring critical infrastructure work can move forward without delay.
Haddon Township’s investment reflects a broader statewide push to modernize buried utility systems and eliminate legacy materials that no longer meet current safety expectations. New Jersey communities have increasingly turned to state-backed financing programs as federal and state regulatory standards continue to tighten around lead exposure, water system transparency, and asset management.
Municipal leaders emphasized that the project will be coordinated carefully to limit disruptions to residents and businesses along Cuthbert Boulevard. Construction scheduling, traffic control plans, and phased utility shutdowns are expected to be released publicly ahead of the start of field work. Township officials also plan to conduct direct outreach to affected property owners to explain how private service line inspections and replacements will be handled.
Beyond water quality improvements, the project is also expected to generate short-term economic activity through engineering services, construction contracts, materials procurement, and project management roles. Local officials noted that infrastructure programs of this scale contribute to workforce stability in the regional utility and heavy civil construction sector.
The initiative also aligns with Haddon Township’s broader capital improvement strategy, which prioritizes proactive maintenance over emergency response. Township administrators have increasingly focused on replacing assets before failure rather than absorbing the higher long-term costs associated with emergency repairs, roadway reconstruction, and repeated service interruptions.
For residents, the upgrades promise more than just regulatory compliance. The improvements are expected to deliver stronger system reliability, better water pressure consistency, and enhanced confidence in the township’s drinking water supply. Officials say that eliminating outdated service materials will also improve the township’s ability to meet future testing and reporting requirements without costly retrofits.
As planning advances, the Cuthbert Boulevard initiative is poised to become one of the township’s most visible infrastructure projects and a benchmark for how small and mid-sized communities can leverage state financing to modernize essential utilities.
Ongoing coverage of local infrastructure and utility investment—including projects like this major water system overhaul—will continue as part of Sunset Daily News’ regional construction reporting across South Jersey and the greater Camden County area.
