The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has awarded a contract to a Somerset County firm to undertake a project that will improve the intersection of Route 537 and Route 34 in Colts Neck and replace two bridges over Mine Brook near the intersection.
Seven bids for the long-awaited and much anticipated project were received by the county on July 25.
On Aug. 24, the freeholders placed the $17.45 million contract in the hands of Rencor Inc. of Somerville, which was the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, according to a resolution passed by the county’s governing body.
The awarding of the contract to Rencor Inc. was recommended to the freeholders by the Division of Engineering following a review of the bids and is subject to approval of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Freeholder Tom Arnone said the project was estimated to cost $21.3 million and he said the competitive bidding process produced proposals ranging from $17.5 million to more than $30 million.
In the end, the freeholders awarded the contract to Rencor Inc. at a price that was nearly $4 million under the project estimate.
Arnone said almost all of the work associated with the intersection improvements will be borne by the federal government, with about $172,000 coming from county funds.
Route 34 is a state highway and Route 537 is a county highway. Officials have previously called the location the busiest intersection in the county.
According to the county, the planned work at and near the intersection will include:
• Widening of Route 34 to accommodate six lanes along each intersection approach, including an exclusive left turn lane, two through lanes, an exclusive right turn lane and two receiving lanes
• Widening Route 537 to accommodate five lanes along each intersection approach, including an exclusive left turn lane, a through lane, a through/right turn lane and two receiving lanes
• Replacement of the existing traffic signal, including pedestrian improvements
• Replacing the Route 537 bridge over Mine Brook that is 120 feet west of the intersection. The overall condition of the bridge, constructed in 1920, is serious due to severe spalling (breaking of concrete) and concrete deterioration
• Replacing the Route 34 bridge over Mine Brook that is 400 feet north of the intersection. The overall condition of the bridge, constructed in 1930, is considered fair due to the condition of the superstructure and the substructure.
However, based on the results of a visual assessment and concrete core drilling as performed during feasibility assessment, it has been recommended that this structure also be removed and replaced
• A bio-retention basin is proposed for the northeast and southeast quadrants.
