|
Bridges, Roads Being Upgraded In Ocean County
TOMS RIVER - With more than 620 miles of county roads connected by a network of 240 bridges and culverts, Ocean County continues to do its part in investing in its infrastructure to make certain its motorists are safe.
"As our bridge structures continue to age and traffic volumes increase, we plan for the future with replace- ment and maintenance projects that keep our road system and infrastructure up to date," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Engineering Department.
Over the next 10 years, the county anticipates building 25 replacement bridge and culvert structures at an estimated cost of $50 million, said Ocean County Engineer Ronald A. Lotrecchio.
On average, Ocean County replaces four bridges or culverts a year and spends at least $8 million a year on bridge maintenance and replacement projects.
"There is a commitment on the part of the county to make sure our bridges and the infrastructure is up to date and maintained," Kelly noted. "These replacement and maintenance programs are ongoing and helps us to insure the safety of the structures motorists use in Ocean County."
During the last decade, the county has undertaken such major bridge replacement projects as the new Beaver Dam Bridge in Point Pleasant and the new Mantoloking Bridge, connecting Brick Township to Mantoloking. The Board of Freeholders officially opened the new downtown Toms River Bridge earlier this year.
Currently, there are seven county bridges under design and scheduled for replacements. Those spans are Vince's Bridge, located on Route 527 (Oak Ridge Parkway), Toms River; Black Snake Creek Bridge on Bayview Avenue in Berkeley Township; Francis Mills Bridge on Route 571 and Grawtown Road Bridge, both in Jackson Township; and Morris Boulevard Bridge in Stafford Township. "We expect to replace these bridges within the next five years," Lotrecchio said.
"Ocean County's bridges are reviewed every two years as part of the federal Highway Bridge Inspection Program, managed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The inspection looks at several major elements that make up the bridge including the substructure, abutment, super structure and road approaches.
Ocean County also has two bridge maintenance crews operating under the road department, which perform minor repairs in-house to extend the life of the structures and respond to the conditions identified in the federal inspections program.
"Most bridges are constructed with a life span of at least 50 years," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county road department.
"However, without the proper maintenance and ongoing inspections, the span could age prematurely and become a safety hazard."
The county maintains 110 bridges having a span-length greater than 20 feet, all of which are listed on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI). The remaining 130 structures are bridge and culverts spanning between five and 20 feet on both county roads and municipal streets.
"Our engineering department and road department work diligently to make sure our bridges and our infrastructure is in the best shape possible," Kelly said. "Our motorists can be confident that the bridges they cross in Ocean County are safe and will continue to be."
| 
