NJDOT to reconstruct three Route 57 bridges
in Mansfield Township
Project will advance in stages, with long term truck detour and additional traffic impacts
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced a project to replace three individual Route 57 bridge superstructures - two located over branches of the Musconetcong River (at mileposts 13.91 and 14.07) and one located over Hances Brook (at milepost 18.1) - in Mansfield Township, Warren County.
On or about Friday, March 1, NJDOT’s contractor, H&G Contractors, Inc., is scheduled to set up the initial construction zone for the first stage of construction. This will require the full closure of the bridge at milepost 14.07 to all traffic and the restriction of westbound traffic over the bridge at milepost 13.91, with eastbound access remaining open for local traffic.
At the same time, a truck detour will be implemented around the project limits. The truck detour will remain in effect for the full duration of the three superstructure replacements. The truck detour will utilize only state highways as local roads are not suitable for truck traffic.
• Eastbound Route 57 truck traffic will be detoured to Route 31 north, then Route 46 east to Route 182 back to Route 57.
• Westbound Route 57 trucks will be detoured on to Route 182 north to Route 46 west and Route 31 south back to Route 57.
Construction will advance in three stages, with additional long-term traffic shifts, closures and detours necessary. The two bridges over the Musconetcong River will be constructed concurrently given their close proximity and the Hances Brook bridge will be completed last.
The $1.8 million federally-funded project will replace the existing, structurally deficient at-grade bridge superstructures at each location and make guide rail upgrades and some minor substructure repair. Scour countermeasures – to prevent erosion – will also be included in the work for the bridge over Hances Brook. Route 57 will be repaved at the bridge approaches at each location. NJDOT anticipates the project being completed in early 2014.
“The replacement of these structurally-deficient Route 57 bridges is an investment in safety that exemplifies NJDOT’s commitment to improving the state's aging highway bridges,” said Commissioner James S. Simpson.
NJDOT coordinated the construction staging and traffic impacts with officials from both Mansfield and Washington townships. A public information center was held in Mansfield in November 2012 to provide citizens and business owners the opportunity to review project plans and talk to key project personnel prior to construction.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website for real-time travel information.
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