Two heavily-traveled bridges in Middlesex and Somerset counties to be replaced
The state Department of Transportation has announced plans to replace the bridges over the Delaware & Raritan Canal on Landing Lane in New Brunswick and Main Street in South Bound Brook.
Construction on the two projects is not expected to begin until May 2027.
Both bridges, according to the DOT, are in "poor condition" and do not meet current design standards, including the absence of shoulders and adequate sidewalk widths.
The two steel girder bridges were built in 1920 as swing spans to allow passage of marine traffic, but they have been locked in place since the late 1960s.
The DOT wants to replace the two bridges with new structures designed to last 75 years and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
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At Landing Lane, the DOT proposes to replace the 74-foot-long, 27.83-foot-wide bridge with a 65.67-foot-long and 33.33-foot-wide bridge. The new bridge will have two 11-foot-wide lanes with a 1-foot shoulder in each direction and a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side.
The construction will be done during the spring and summer months to minimize traffic impact while Rutgers is in session.
A temporary pedestrian bridge will be installed west of the bridge to maintain pedestrian traffic during construction.
In South Bound Brook, the 86-foot-long and 33.33-foot-wide bridge will be replaced with an 81.75-foot-long and 34.33-foot-wide bridge with 12-foot lanes, a 1-foot shoulder in both directions and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side.
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During construction, the Queen's Bridge over the Raritan River to Bound Brook will be closed to vehicular traffic but will be open to pedestrians.
The DOT is holding an online public information session on the two projects through May 27.
According to the DOT, the final designs for the two bridges should be completed by January 2027 with construction beginning in May 2027 with a tentative completion date of July 2028.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ traffic: Middlesex, Somerset bridges to be replaced
