Four-month detour for East Hanover commuters
EAST HANOVER – Six years after a chunk of it collapsed into the Passaic River, the long-awaited fix of the Eagle Rock Avenue Bi-County Bridge will begin on Monday.
The complete replacement of the bridge's superstructure will close the busy span for about four months, with an anticipated re-opening date of Sept. 18. The bridge will close after Monday's morning rush hour. Drivers will be directed during construction to a proposed five-mile detour along Eisenhower Parkway, Route 280 and Ridgedale Avenue.
Originally anticipated to be a 12-month project in 2012, the project was postponed due to utility-relocation work and the replacement of a bridge on nearby Route 10.
"We didn't want to close two bridges in the same area at the same time," said Deena Leary, director of the Morris County Department of Planning and Public Works.
The condition of the bridge — which dates back to 1952 — has been an issue since June of 2009, when a 4-by-4-foot section of the bridge fell into the Passaic River. The gaping hole was quickly repaired, but eight more deteriorating areas were identified in a followup inspection by Stantec Consulting. A Morris county engineer at the time agreed with the need for rehabilitation, but said that the condition was not sufficiently critical to require closure of the bridge.
The bridge connects East Hanover to Roseland in Essex County. It is owned by Morris and Essex counties, and Morris County is responsible for maintaining the bridge on a road formerly known as the Essex County Highway.
Construction costs, which will be shared by the two counties, are estimated at $2,183,746.46. Morris County is the lead agency administering the project.
"Waterways like rivers often form borders between towns and counties," Leary said. "In those cases, the counties alternate serving as the lead agency. This one is ours"
Due to the advanced deterioration of the superstructure, Morris County officials requested that Konkus Corp., the contractor for the project, provide an accelerated work schedule that would include a complete bridge closure. Konkus presented its plan to county and municipal officials on May 1.
The bridge is 169 feet long and 53 1/2 feet wide, covering a flood-prone region in the Passaic River basin that spills into both counties. It has three lanes, including a turning lane.
More Morris roadwork
Morris County officials this week also will begin its 2015 road-resurfacing program with work on West Mill Road in Washington Township. That project as described as "just the beginning" of a 32-mile resurfacing program funded through county and state dollars.
Pipe and drainage work along a 1.8 mile stretch of West Mill Road, from the Hunterdon County border to Beacon Hill Road, was scheduled to begin on Monday, with construction work, including milling and repaving of that stretch of West Mill Road, expected to follow beginning May 18.
Morris County Freeholder David Scapicchio, liaison to the Department of Planning and Public Works, said the county budgeted more $6 million in its 2015 Capital Program. Scapicchio expects the pipe and drainage work on West Mill Road to take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., while milling and paving work will occur between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The entire project should be completed in two to three weeks. With no acceptable detour available, traffic in both directions will be alternated. Road closures are not expected.
Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.