Metuchen’s Grove Avenue Bridge Project Needs A Few More Weeks, Mayor Says

METUCHEN, NJ — Work on the Grove Avenue Bridge will stretch beyond the revised Oct. 1 completion date, with crews needing a few more weeks to finish, weather permitting, Mayor Jonathan M. Busch said.

Busch shared the update in a Facebook post after speaking with the project's construction manager and a representative from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

"We were originally told the project would be completed by September 1, and that was later revised to October 1," Busch said. "Unfortunately, it now appears they will need a few additional weeks, weather permitting, to finish the job."

Several factors contributed to the latest delay, including utility-related issues that were apparently unforeseen, according to Busch.

Busch said the pace of work has picked up significantly since the borough first raised concerns about the Sept. 1 deadline.

"Crews are now working seven days a week, the labor force has been expanded, and additional shifts have been added to move the project along as quickly as possible," he said.

Crews are currently finishing drainage work, Busch said. Concrete work, including curbing and sidewalks, is expected to begin next week, followed by paving.

"These delays have been very frustrating for all of us, and we continue to stay on top of things and are pressing for the work to be completed as quickly as possible," Busch said.

Grove Avenue has been closed in both directions over the Port Reading Railroad bridge since late June, when crews began demolishing and replacing the timber structure, which was built in 1900 and is in poor condition, according to the NJDOT. Read more: Metuchen's Grove Avenue Bridge To Close For $10M Reconstruction

The closure was timed with Metuchen High School, which sits next to the bridge, to avoid disrupting the school year. But the bridge did not reopen before classes began, and the state later committed to finishing that portion of the work by Oct. 1, Busch said in August. Read more: Grove Avenue Bridge Won't Reopen Before Metuchen School Year Begins

Since the start of the school year, the high school's main entrance across from Norris Avenue has been entry-only, with all traffic exiting via Mason Drive, according to the NJDOT. A temporary pedestrian bridge on the east side of Grove Avenue remains open for students crossing from the south side of the street. Read more: Metuchen High School Entrance Will Be One-Way Starting Monday, NJDOT Says

The following detours remain in place:

• Grove Avenue northbound: Turn left onto Middlesex Avenue/Route 27, right onto Central Avenue, which becomes Plainfield Avenue/CR 661, then right onto Oak Tree Road back to Grove Avenue.

• Grove Avenue southbound: Turn right onto Oak Tree Road, left onto Plainfield Avenue/CR 661, which becomes Central Avenue, then left onto Middlesex Avenue/Route 27 back to Grove Avenue.

The $10 million federally funded project will replace the bridge with a new structure featuring a reinforced concrete deck and the same lane configuration, according to the NJDOT. The overall project is expected to be completed in spring 2027.

Motorists can check 511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.

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