Higgins Road bridge opened on schedule
The New Jersey Departent of Transportation today reopened to vehicular traffic the replacement bridge on Higginsville Road in Readington Township. The original bridge was demolished by a Conrail freight train on May 30.
"What this means is that area residents will again be able to rely on this road for travel needs," the Commissioner said. "Higginsville Road is extremely important to local commerce and reopening it quickly ensures it remains a vital link in this region."
Haley said the NJDOT replaced the bridge at a height of 21 feet to accommodate future Conrail freight shipments. The commissioner also said Conrail has committed to paying for the work, which he estimated at $400,000.
The NJDOT had inspected the original Higginsville Road Bridge on May 22, 1997, and found it structurally sound. The department also made repairs, including the replacement of decking planks and timber beams, to the span in May 1995.
The bridge was built in the early years of this century and was technically an "orphan", meaning it at one time spanned the right of way over a defunct railroad. The New Jersey State Legislature subsequently made the NJDOT responsible for all bridges for which no individual or entity claimed responsibility.
"I applaud the work of NJDOT crews to get the replacement structure in place in such a timely fashion," the Commissioner said.
Work on the bridge was supervised by staff from the NJDOT’s Division of Project Management, and Maintenance and Operations.
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