Morris County 2018 Spring and Summer Bridge Work Target Spans Across the County

Published on April 25, 2018

CURRENT HANOVER TWP. BRIDGE REHAB ON TARGET FOR JULY COMPLETION

Morris County is planning a series of 2018 spring and summer bridge repair and replacement projects at locations from Washington and Chester townships in the west to Butler in the east as part of a continuing infrastructure. Several of the projects are just awaiting consistently warmer temperatures to allow work to begin.

Workers from Colonnelli Brothers of Hackensack prepare the bridge on Ridgedale Avenue in Hanover Township for a new concrete deck. It's the third of four phases of construction. The bridge is expected to be complete in early July.

One ongoing proiect, major repairs to a heavily used but deteriorating bridge on Ridgedale Avenue in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover Township, near the Walmart shopping center, is on target for completion in early July. It is one of many bridge and road projects slated for this spring and summer.

A contractor hired by the county is prepping the bridge for a new concrete deck. It's the third phase of a four-phase project of rehabilitating the small but important bridge, which runs over a tributary to the Whippany River at the junction with Frederick Place. The final piece of construction will be pouring a new sidewalk.

Freeholder John Cesaro

It is important to maintain our road and bridge infrastructure, obviously to ensure the safety of our residents but also to help maintain Morris County's reputation as a top quality place to live and do business,'' said Freeholder John Cesaro, the county governing board's liaison on county road and bridge work. "We know these projects can sometimes be a short-term inconvenience to residents but they offer offer long-term benefits.''

The bridge in Hanover Township is a single span, steel-stringer structure with concrete substructures. The bridge, installed in 1974, is 28 feet long and 58 feet wide. It carries about 24,400 vehicles each day on a route that connects Route 10 and Morristown.

Inspection of the span showed deterioration and severe rusting in the beams and numerous cracks in the deck that required repairs. The contractor for this project is Colonnelli Brothers of Hackensack. The bid construction cost is $1.3 million, including a mix of state and county financing.

Work being done on the Ridgedale Avenue bridge in the Cedar Kn0lls section of Hanover Township.

OTHER BRIDGE PROJECTS

Flanders-Drakestown Road, Mount Olive: Crews are finishing up the stone facing on the parapet on the new Flanders-Drakestown Road bridge. Once ground temperatures warm up, the road will be closed for one day for paving. The bridge has a daily traffic flow of 950 vehicles and is a conduit for school buses heading to and from the high school and intermediary school in Mount Olive. The new bridge replaced a 117-year-old structure.

Main Street, Butler: Repair work to the deck of the 88-year-old, dual-lane bridge on Main Street, or Route 511, in Butler, is still on hold until temperatures go up and stay up. The work requires the use of specialty products that could be negatively impacted by cold temperatures.

The bridge, built in 1929, is heavily used. It carries about 11,000 vehicles daily over the Pequannock River. It has gradually deteriorated due to heavy use and the effect of road salt applied each winter. Due to water seepage from cracks in the roadway, the pre-stressed concrete beams are deteriorating with the salt build up.

Schooley's Mountain Road, Washington Township: Replacement of a small county bridge on busy Schooley's Mountain Road, over the Musconetcong River, is planned for late this year or early in 2019.

Hacklebarney Road, Chester Township: Rehabilitation of the Hacklebarney Road bridge in Chester Township is planned to start is late summer. The bridge connects State Park Road on one end with Lamerson Road on the other end.

ON HOLD: Black River Road, Washington Township: The lightly traveled Black River Bridge, located near Pickle Road, is just 12-feet long and 21-feet wide, and carries an average of 245 vehicles each day. The bridge is down to a single lane. Proposed repairs of damage due to water seepage are under design. Repair work that was anticipated to start this spring is currently on hold. More information will be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, Board of Freeholders recently announced its 2018 list of county road paving projects that will target more than 30 miles across 24 municipalities at a total cost of $9 million, in a continuation of the board's continuing policy of maintaining and improving the county's high quality road network.

Portions of county roads scheduled for paving in 2018 are located in Butler, Chatham Borough, Dover, Florham Park, Hanover, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, and Madison. Work is also set for roads in Mendham Township, Mine Hill, Montville, Morris Township, Morristown, Netcong, Parsippany, Pequannock, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Roxbury, Washington Township, and Wharton.

The county also has targeted two major intersections for paving, including the county's busiest intersection at Columbia Turnpike and Park Avenue in Hanover and Morris townships, plus the Myrtle Avenue and Wootton Street intersection in Boonton.

To see the complete list of currently scheduled 2018 county paving projects, visit: https://transportation.morriscountynj.gov/2018-county-road-paving-projects/