One of the worst-rated bridges in the state is in West Windsor. The Old Trenton Road bridge over the Big Bear Brook, a 140-foot span, scored 2 points out of 100 on a Federal Highway Administration ranking system. ##M:[more]##
The New Jersey Association of Counties issued a list of the state’s 10 worst bridges maintained by counties. Mercer County spokesman Pete Daly says the county already has a plan to repair the bridge, built in 1925. “We are aware of that bridge and the design phase on a replacement bridge is already 95 percent complete,” said Daly. He added that the work is expected to begin later this year.
None of the bridges on the list have been deemed unsafe. “The average person who drives over the bridge on a given day would not notice anything,” says Daly.
Meanwhile, the Alexander Road Bridge remains open while it is undergoing its own renovation. Ground was broken on the bridge replacement project on July 30 by Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, County Executive Brian Hughes, Council President Will Anklowitz and New Jersey transportation officials.
The project is expected to take 18 months to complete. The bridge will remain open until next summer, when it is expected to close for three months before it reopens with wider lanes and a roundabout.
At a spot very close to the Alexander Road bridge, the sewer repair at Alexander and Wallace roads is nearing completion and Alexander and Wallace roads are once again open. According to George Spille, head of the West Windsor Department of Public Works, the repair of the sewer following flood damages is the worst sewer problem the township has ever faced.
“We don’t anticipate closing the roads again,” said Spille. “We have to get the sewers lined now, those pipes aren’t in good shape. We have done a lot of work in a relatively short amount of time, and we’re doing it the right way, saving the township a lot of money.”
Spille said the public works department has done some work, while private company Conover and Sons, has done the rest. Spille said he could not give a definite timeline for when the work would be completely finished.
Some township roads will be paved over the next six weeks as part of the annual road improvement program. The schedule is as follows:
August 6 to 17 – Milling and paving on Wallingford Drive, Varsity Avenue, Wilder Avenue, Pierson Avenue and Coventry Circle. During the paving operation residents will be asked to not to park vehicles in the roadway.
August 13 to 24 – Milling and paving on South Lane between Village Road East and Windsor Road.
August 20 to September 21 – Roadway widening and reconstruction along Millstone Road between Cranbury Road and the Plainsboro border. Curb, drainage and utility improvements are currently ongoing and will continue throughout this time.
Work on South Lane and Millstone Road will occur between the hours of 9am and 4pm to minimize traffic impacts.
