Somerset County - Christie Administration Announces $25 Million In FY14 Bridge Grants

Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties are to receive a $1 million grant to help maintain the structure of their local bridges.

Somerset County will use the grant toward the replacement of the South Main Street Bridge over Royce Brook in the Borough of Manville.

An additional $1 million was reward to both Somerset and Union Counties to replace the Netherwood Avenue Bridge which crosses over Green Brook in North Plainfield Borough and Plainfield City.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation:

The Christie Administration today announced 28 Local Bridge, Future Needs grants totaling $21 million to help counties maintain local bridges in a state of good repair.

“The Christie Administration has made improving existing infrastructure, including bridges, a priority at both the state and local level,” NJDOT Commissioner Jamie Fox said. “The Local Bridges, Future Needs Program provides funds for counties to replace, repair, or improve bridges within each county without burdening local property taxpayers.”

Local Bridges, Future Needs (LBFN) is a $25 million program that provides $1 million to each of the 21 counties for the improvement of county bridges and includes an additional $4 million that is awarded on a competitive basis.

Twenty of the 21 counties are allocating the full $1 million in FY 14 funding to a single project, while Warren County is using the money to repair two bridges.

In addition to the $1 million each county receives, another six grants totaling $4 million were announced supporting projects in Clementon and Cherry Hill (Camden County), Middle Township (Cape May County), Irvington (Essex County), South Plainfield (Middlesex County), and North Plainfield and Plainfield (Somerset County).

The grants are administered by the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development and are funded through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. Each year, Local Aid grants represent a significant portion of Local System Support, which also includes local lead projects, regional planning and project development, and transportation enhancement projects.