Grove Avenue Bridge Won't Reopen Before Metuchen School Year Begins

METUCHEN, NJ — The Grove Avenue Bridge will not reopen in time for the first day of school next week as officials had hoped, Mayor Jonathan M. Busch said.

The bridge, part of a $10 million reconstruction project overseen by the state Department of Transportation, has been closed since late June so crews could demolish and replace the timber structure, which dated back in some form to the late 1800s.

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The closure was originally coordinated with Metuchen High School, which sits adjacent to the bridge, to avoid disrupting the start of the school year.

"We're frustrated that the portion expected to reopen before school wasn't completed on schedule," Busch said, adding that he'll be dealing with the impact himself as the parent of a Metuchen High School student.

A temporary pedestrian bridge remains open for students and staff walking or biking to school, Busch said. The Metuchen Police Department and the school district have put a traffic and safety plan in place for the delay.

The state has committed to completing this portion of the project by Oct. 1, according to Busch, and the borough will continue monitoring progress.

"Thanks for your continued patience as we get through a slightly more trafficky start to the school year than any of us wanted," Busch said.

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