DiVincenzo: Downtown Bridge Project Could Be Done in January

While the deadline for the Millburn Avenue bridge to be completed is in March, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo expects the work to be done around the end of January.

DiVincenzo held a press event to answer questions regarding the $1.7 million project to demolish and replace the bridge on Thursday, and area business owners and leaders also attended the event in front of the Millburn Deli. The bridge is located just east of Main Street.

DiVincenzo pointed to his record as county executive of projects being completed earlier than they are expected to be done. He said county officials are working to have the bridge itself done by the end of January or early February although sidewalk work would still need to be done.

"We are going to try to expedite (the project)," he said. "We know it's an inconvenience. We know everyone will love the new bridge."

The sidewalk work would include the pavement and the stone facing, and one side would be closed at a time for a few weeks.

DiVincenzo also said there is never an intention to close Millburn Avenue. If the road is closed, it would mean the project could be completed within six months, he said, but that's not what the community wanted.

DiVincenzo also promised the Millburn Avenue bridge would not be like what happened with the Vauxhall Avenue bridge, which took years to complete instead of months. He said it was a Union County project, but it was one of his first when he took office and worked to get a temporary bridge in place.

Mayor Thomas McDermott said in that instance the contractor, which as not the same company overseeing the Millburn Avenue construction, went bankrupt and walked away from the project. There were problems with needing to rebid the project.

"We have a good contractor on this project," DiVincenzo said of Cruz Construction.  "I'm confident in them... This is not going to be Vauxhall."

In addition to saying the project could be done in January, the county executive said he is willing to have a meeting at Town Hall for business owners and residents to hear about the project, ask questions and provide feedback.

Debra Camitta, Curate co-owner, questioned how the business owners in the area can have their voices heard. She said some of the communication seems "last minute" and could have come sooner. If there were meetings or better communication, it would prevent some of the "chaos, anger and frustration," she said. She cited how the merchants do the majority of their business in the final quarter of the year as the reason for their concern.

DiVincenzo responded to say county officials had no choice but to do the project now, but Camitta said she was not arguing the project being done now. "It is what it is," she said. It's the communication that needs to be better, she said, because she feels merchants don't have an opportunity to make recommendations and provide feedback that can be constructive.

It's when DiVincenzo said he was willing to have a meeting at Town Hall about the project, which would be open to the public. He said he likes having those types of meetings because it "keeps me under the gun to get it done."

McDermott said said the best timing for the meeting would be around the time the project switches from the south side of the bridge to the north side. Sanjeeev Varghese, county engineer, said the arch for the south side is due to arrive on Oct. 11. It would take about three weeks for it to be installed before the switch can be made.

John Buchholz, Downtown Millburn president, said there has been open communication between him, township officials and the project contractor. If there are issues brought to him by merchants, the contractor listens and will make changes. For example, they are willing to modify the new fences to control pedestrians if needed. He also cited how the black tarps were removed so downtown businesses would be more visible.

Local officials also have been asking for a second police officer to be stationed at the bridge project. Right now one officer is at the construction site stationed in front of the deli when work is being done. But DiVincenzo said county officials do not budget for police officers in their projects, and there isn't the money for the officer.

Vaghese and Gina Zamiskie, project manager of Transystems, both said pedestrians should not be crossing in the middle of the block because the road is too busy.

"Saving lives is more important," Vaghese said.

Zamiskie said it was never the intent to change the pedestrian path to the middle of the walk. The safest path is always to use the crosswalk.

The project has been on the drawing board for five years, DiVincenzo said. "This is the worst bridge in Essex County," he said. "The state is putting the pressure on us (for the project)."