BurlCo Bridge Deemed 'Unsafe' In Late March Has Reopened Following Repairs

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The Main Street Bridge's emergency closure, which began in late March, has ended. The typically well-used bridge completely reopened Thursday afternoon for drivers.

The bridge spans the north branch of the Pennsauken Creek. Before the closures, more than 12,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily.

The Burlington County Engineer's Office ordered the bridge's temporary closure March 30 after deeming it "structurally unsafe." Testing confirmed Thursday that the emergency repairs brought enough strength to the structure to safely allow motor-vehicle traffic.

• Read more: 'Unsafe Bridge' Closed, Heavy Traffic Anticipated In Burlington County

The engineer's office will continue to monitor the bridge and determine the next steps for additional repairs and maintenance. The bridge — one of Burlington County's oldest spans — was built in 1900 and reconstructed in 1930.

"Getting the bridge back open safely as expeditiously as possible was our top priority," said County Engineer Joseph Brickley. "We successfully completed that task, but we will keep close watch to see what additional work might be appropriate."

Officials ordered the closure in late March after damage to the bridge pilings was uncovered during the start of some unrelated repairs. The damage, which was below the water line, was discovered when a contractor lowered the creek to perform the originally scheduled maintenance.

The County Construction Services team overcame several delays, including heavy rain in late April and May that also required additional drainage beneath the bridge, Brickley said.

With the repairs complete, the construction team plans to begin work next week on Forklanding Road Bridge in Cinnaminson. The work was originally slated to start earlier this month but was postponed in order to avoid potential traffic problems from having two nearby bridges closed at the same time.

Officials expect the closure of the one-lane Forklanding Road Bridge to last about eight weeks.