Morris Avenue Bridge To Open Friday After Almost 3 Years

SUMMIT, NJ — The Morris Avenue Bridge will be open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Friday at 6 p.m. after being closed for almost three years.

The bridge over the Morris & Essex rail line has been closed since Aug. 11, 2015. New Jersey Transit's replacement project — funded through the State Transportation Trust Fund — was originally estimated to take 18 months to complete.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held with Summit Mayor Nora Radest to open the bridge at 5:30 p.m. on Friday that will include state and local government officials, and city staff. Members of the public are invited to attend.

“I am extremely pleased to report that the Morris Avenue Bridge will finally open on Friday,” stated Radest. “The project has seen a number of significant delays and I appreciate the final push by New Jersey Transit to complete work by the end of June. Morris Avenue runs through the heart of Summit and having this section of roadway available again will help ease traffic congestion in a very busy part of town.”

The construction project included:

• reconstruction of the bridge abutments;
• replacement of the steel bridge superstructure and concrete bridge deck;
• widening of the bridge approaches to improve bridge geometry;
• construction and rehabilitation of the retaining walls, curbs, sidewalks and ADA ramps;
• installation of the ornamental railings on the bridge and the retaining walls;
• relocation of the traffic signal pole and the cantilever arm in the Morris Avenue and Kent Place Boulevard intersection;
• installation of new traffic signage and striping.

For more information about the bridge reopening visit cityofsummit.org.

(Image via City of Summit)

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