Improvements Planned for Two Busy 90-Year-Old Morris County Bridges in Florham Park and Long Hill
Published on April 18, 2018
Columbia Turnpike and Valley Road Bridges -- PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS MAY 9-10
Morris County, in coordination with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and New Jersey Department of Transportation, is conducting studies to determine improvements needed for the Columbia Turnpike Bridge in Florham Park and the Valley Road Bridge in Long Hill and Bernards Township, at the Morris and Somerset counties' border.
(JPG, 3MB) Columbia Turnpike Bridge
The goals of each project are to address structural deficiencies of the 90-year-old bridges and increase safety for motorists.
Briefings are planned next week for officials from towns that would affected by construction projects at each location. Public information sessions will be held on Wednesday, May 9, in Florham Park, for the Columbia Turnpike project; and Thursday, May 10, in Bernards Township, for the Valley Road bridge project.
"We urge area residents to attend these information sessions so they can learn, first-hand, proposals for these bridges, and to offer their advice to the professionals who are working on these projects,'' said Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro, who is the county governing board's liaison on road and bridge projects.
COLUMBIA TURNPIKE: The low-lying bridge on Columbia Turnpike (County Route 510), adjacent to the Morristown Airport runways, runs over the Black Brook in Florham Park. Now approaching 90 years old, the Columbia Turnpike Bridge is in poor condition and has structural and functional limitations that do not meet today's design standards.
The existing Columbia Turnpike Bridge is a single span, multi-stringer bridge built in 1929 and widened in 1960. The bridge carries four lanes, two in each direction, with no shoulders and two sidewalks.
Columbia Turnpike is a major east-west roadway, providing regional connections to Route 24, I-287, and the Garden State Parkway. The roadway and shoulder width do not meet current travel needs and the bridge structure is in poor condition.
Keep up with this project at http://www.columbiaturnpikebridge.com/.
(JPG, 4MB) Valley Road Bridge
VALLEY ROAD: The two-lane bridge on Valley Road (County Route 512) runs over the Passaic River, connecting Bernards Township in Somerset County and Long Hill in Morris County.
Also approaching 90 years old, the Valley Road Bridge is in poor condition and has structural and functional limitations that also do not meet today's design standards.
It is a three-span, concrete encased, multi-stringer bridge that was built in 1930, and is about 100 feet long. The bridge carries two 13.5-foot lanes, a two-foot wide westbound shoulder, a four-foot eastbound shoulder, and has two sidewalks.
Keep up with this project at http://www.valleyroadbridgenj.com/
The purpose of the Public Information Centers for both projects is to inform the public about the study objectives, status and schedule. In addition, the Public Information Centers also will provide an opportunity to identify concerns and obtain input on the study's draft purpose and need statement.
Study team members will be in attendance to present information and answer questions. Comments cards will be available. The public is encouraged to comment.
COLUMBIA TURNPIKE PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Time: 6€“8 p.m. - Open House and 6:30 p.m. Presentation
Location: Florham Park Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 111 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
*Borough of Florham Park Municipal Building is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Written comments will be accepted through June 1, 2018. Comments may be mailed or emailed to: Meghan M. Paccione, Senior Engineer €“ Bridges, Morris County Dept. of Public Works, Division of Engineering and Transportation, P.O. Box 900, Morristown, NJ 07960. Email:mpaccione@co.morris.nj.us
VALLEY ROAD PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2018
Time: 5€“ 8 p.m. (Open house format) 6 p.m. Presentation
Location: Bernards Township Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 1 Collyer Lane, Bernards Township, NJ 07920
*Bernards Township Municipal Building is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Written comments will be accepted through June 1, 2018. Comments may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to: Brian W. Maurer, P.E., Principal Bridge Engineer, Somerset County Division of Engineering, Bridge Section, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, N.J. 08876. Fax No.: 908-231-7170. Email: maurer@co.somerset.nj.us
Community participation and stakeholder coordination is integral throughout all stages of the study. Throughout the process, local officials, community stakeholders and the public will have an opportunity to provide comments and questions for consideration.