Morris: Key Bridge Work Continues Despite COVID-19 Crisis

Press release from the Morris County Government:

July 9, 2020

Morris County Infrastructure: Key Bridge Work Continues Despite COVID-19 Crisis

Bridge Projects Underway in Dover, Jefferson, and Mount Olive/Netcong

Morris County is moving ahead on a series of bridge infrastructure projects this summer, taking advantage of lighter-than-usual traffic during the COVID-19 crisis to get work done with less impact to the motoring public.

The Russia Road bridge replacement project in Jefferson Township started this week, while work continues on the new East Blackwell Street bridge in Dover and the new Waterloo Road bridge in Mount Olive and Netcong.

Three county bridge projects already have been completed this year, with each of the spans having reopened: Schooley’s Mountain Road bridge in Washington Township, Chestnut Terrace Bridge in Rockaway Township, and the Mill Road bridge in Morris Township.

In addition, three other bridge project contracts have been awarded, with work potentially slated to start later this year: Valley Road bridge in Rockaway, West Central Avenue bridge in Wharton, and Intervale Road bridge over Troy Brook in Parsippany.

“The Board of Freeholders has made the maintenance of our transportation infrastructure a priority, working to provide a first-class county road and bridge network for our residents and businesses,” said Morris County Freeholder Stephen Shaw. “Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have moved ahead aggressively to ensure that we maintain our status as The Infrastructure County in New Jersey.

County bridge projects included in the county’s 2020 capital budget included potential work on 17 bridges in Butler, Denville, Dover, Jefferson, Mendham Township, Morris Township, Netcong/Stanhope, Randolph, Rockaway Township, Washington Township, and Wharton. Here is a look at current projects:

Work continues on the East Blackwell Street bridge project in Dover (photos by Karen Mancinelli)

DOVER:

Work began in January to replace the deck on the East Blackwell Street bridge over the Rockaway River in Dover. East Blackewll Street is closed to traffic at the project site, with a 2.8-mile detour in place until expected completion later this year.

The $1.85 million project includes replacement of the existing 37-year-old bridge deck and both approaches to the heavily traveled span. A temporary pedestrian bridge was installed to maintain walking accessibility to the area throughout the project.

The bridge now being replaced was installed in 1982 and carried more than 18,000 vehicles daily. It was 110-foot long and 58-foot wide with dual two-way traffic lanes and a center turning lane leading traffic towards South Salem Street.

Waterloo Road bridge replacement project

MOUNT OLIVE/NETCONG:

Work began in late February on replacement of bi-county Waterloo Road bridge, which spans Netcong and Mount Olive in Morris County and connects with Stanhope in Sussex County.

The $2.3 million replacement project is required because the bridge is structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The project has required closure of Waterloo Road, with a 2.5-mile detour installed for the estimated nine-month project.

The bridge being replaced was a single span steel truss originally built in 1894, which carried about 1,100 vehicles per day. The 18-feet wide and 43-feet long bridge carried two lanes of traffic –one in each direction.

To maintain some of the historic character of the original bridge, the original trusses will be restored and re-installed.

Russia Road bridge in Jeffersion is being replaced

JEFFERSON:

Work began this week to replace the Russia Road bridge over Russia Brook in Jefferson Township. The county-owned span will be closed to motor vehicle traffic, with a 5-mile detour in place for up to nine months.

Detours are guiding traffic to alternate routes in both directions, employing Dover-Milton Road, Legion Road, Berkshire Valley Road, and Ridge Road during the project.

The $1.2 million project will replace the existing 41-year-old bridge and both approaches. The bridge being replaced, which carries roughly 275 vehicles daily, was installed in 1979 and has had no major repairs done to it since that time.

Here is the full list of the county’s ongoing, completed, and proposed 2020 bridge projects:

2020 Bridge Replacement/Repair

2020 Bridge Replacement/Repair

2020 Bridge Replacement/Repair

2020 Bridge Replacement/Repair

Bridge Location

Municipality

Bridge #

Work

Roxiticus Road over North Branch of Raritan River
Mendham Twp
1400639
Proposed Rehabilitation

Espanong Road over Lake Hopatcong
Jefferson
1400819
Proposed Rehabilitation

County Route 699 (Berkshire Valley Road) over Rockaway River
Jefferson
1400840
Proposed Rehabilitation

Paterson – Hamburg Tpke over Tributary to Pequannock River
Butler
1400141
Proposed Replacement

Whitehead Road over Whippany River
Morris Twp
1400681
Proposed Replacement

Combs Hollow Road over Tributary to India Brook
Randolph
1400714
Proposed Replacement

Combs Hollow Road over India Brook
Randolph
1400715
Proposed Replacement

Mountainside Road over India Brook
Mendham Twp
1400720
Proposed Replacement

Mill Road over Watnong brook
Morris Township
1400808
Proposed Replacement

Palmer Road over Mill Brook
Randolph/Denville
1400814
Proposed Replacement

County Route 699 (Berkshire Valley Road) over Tributary to Longwood Lake
Jefferson
1400838
Proposed Replacement

Valley Road
Rockaway Twp
1400918
Proposed Replacement

Russia Road over Russia Brook
Jefferson
1400948
Proposed Replacement

West Central Avenue over Tributary to Rockaway River
Wharton
1400997
Proposed Replacement

County Route 513 (East Blackwell Street) over Rockaway River
Dover
1401015
Proposed Replacement

Bank st. over Musconetcong River
Netcong/Stanhope
1401038
Proposed Replacement

County Route 517 (Schooley’s Mountain Road) over Tributary of Musconetcong River
Washington Twp
1401219
Proposed Replacement

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This press release was produced by the Morris County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.