NORTH BRUNSWICK – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced plans for the full reconstruction and “superstructure” replacement of the Adams Lane bridge over Amtrak, with construction to begin no earlier than June 25.
However, North Brunswick municipal officials are not satisfied with the details of the project.
“The project was originally expected to begin in April, but has been delayed. The bridge is one of many ‘orphan’ bridges that have had perpetual deferred maintenance because no one took ownership of the structure. The state has agreed to replace the bridge and then ultimately deed it to Middlesex County. Adams Lane is a county road,” said Michael Hritz, the director of Community Development.
Hritz said he has not seen a cost estimate for the project.
This major transportation infrastructure project is projected to require the closure of all eastbound traffic between Route 1 and Route 130 for an estimated period of 19 months, according to information provided by the township.
The official DOT detour is to use the Route 1/130 overpass. Westbound traffic between Route 130 and Route 1 will remain open.
DOT plans to host a Public Information Center regarding the project in May and regular updates will be provided on the township website at http://northbrunswicknj.gov
However, during the Feb. 22 Township Council meeting, Councilman Ralph Andrews expressed his displeasure with the project.
He said New Jersey has billions of dollars available for infrastructure projects and said there is no reason for the state’s “prehistoric construction practices.”
Andrews cited New York projects where the contractor builds an alternate bridge first and then removes the existing bridge.
“If you look at the alignment of that road (Adams Lane), the way that comes down, and they actually did a great job years ago when the developer of the transit village paid for putting new stacking lanes in and going around so the traffic flows much better through that intersection, (but) it still does back up. …
“In this case they could build another parallel bridge right next to it on the side, figure that out, and then tear down the other one, or tie it in, tie the two together, then fix that center lane, and now you have three lanes temporarily or two lanes temporarily and then fix that and tie that whole thing together so now when you come down the hill you have better traffic stacking which would make this a much better project than what is proposed,” Andrews said.
Andrews also said a timeframe of two years to complete the work “is ridiculous” since it is only about 1,500 feet of one side of a road. He said the project is “going to create such havoc for the town” since school buses and other vehicles frequent Adams Lane.
The bridge was once owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad, but it is considered an orphan bridge, meaning it was never technically owned by Conrail or Amtrak.
Hritz said once the DOT completes the project, the bridge will be permanently deeded to Middlesex County for perpetual maintenance.
The structure provides an east-west connection between Franklin Township and South Brunswick.
Andrews also cited other unsatisfactory projects in North Brunswick, such as the Milltown Road project, where he said it appears no one is working; the Livingston Road construction starting this month; coming over How Lane, which backs up down Livingston Avenue to Hermann Road; in front of Sabella Park on Cozzens Lane.
He said pertaining to Six Mile Run along Route 27, the DOT found a different way to do it so Route 27 was not shut down.
“At some point we have to be more proactive on some of this stuff,” Andrews said, “and I know we met with the county on this. We have to say, ‘No, it’s not acceptable,’ it’s not acceptable to shut down this main artery. We have horrible east to west roads in town. I have been saying that for years and they just never get approved.”
Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack suggested scheduling a broader strategy meeting with members of the council.
“This is an orphan bridge project so we have to No. 1 make sure it gets done and No. 2 see if there is a way that it gets done in a less disruptive way. And it’s an inadequate bridge today and under the plans it will still be the same bridge, but it won’t be at risk of falling down,” Womack said.
In addition to the DOT public meeting, which will be held virtually or in person under state protocols, anyone who lives within 200 feet of the project limits will be notified, and Hritz said he asked that the notification mailing go to a larger area from the project site even if that notification comes at North Brunswick expense.
“We need to get out front and get out as much information as possible,” Councilman Carlo Socio said.
For updates, visit northbrunswicknj.gov
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@newspapermediagroup.com
