NJDOT to replace Burnt Mills Road bridge
decks over I-78 and I-287 in Bedminster

State-of-good-repair project will
advance in stages, with traffic impacts

(Trenton) – New Jersey Department of Transportation ( NJDOT) officials today announced the start of a project to replace three individual bridge deck structures that carry Burnt Mills Road (CR 620) over both Interstate 78 and Interstate 287 in Bedminster, Somerset County.

The three structures, all located in close proximity between Routes 202/206 and Country Club Road in this busy area of Somerset County, being addressed are the:

• Burnt Mills Road bridge that spans over all travel lanes of
  Interstate 78
• Burnt Mills Road bridge over I-287 southbound travel lanes
• Burnt Mills Road bridge over I-287 northbound travel lanes

The bridge decks will be replaced sequentially with cast-in-place concrete construction. The bridge over I-78 will be replaced first while the bridges over I-287 remain in service. When the work over I-78 is completed, the contractor will then turn its focus to the bridges over
I-287.

The reconstruction of the bridges will require a full closure and detour of Burnt Mills Road up to the structures undergoing replacement during an approximately seven month period. Local traffic will continue to have access up to the bridges being worked on, and is also encouraged to seek alternate routes.

Beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, March 7, NJDOT's contractor, Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc., will close the bridge over I-78 as preliminary work to install temporary safety shielding on I-78 and relocate utilities continues.

Detours

• Traffic heading eastbound on Burnt Mills Road will be directed to Rattlesnake Bridge Road, I-78, I-287, Route 202/206 and Burnt Mills Road.
• Traffic heading westbound on Burnt Mills Road will be directed to Route 202/206, I-287, I-78, Rattlesnake Bridge Road and Burnt Mills Road.
• In addition, during overnight activity, lane closures on I-287 and
  I-78 will be implemented while work occurs on the overhead structures.

The $4.8 million federally-funded project will replace the existing, structurally deficient bridge decks and make guide rail upgrades and some minor substructure repair at each location. In addition, the contractor will pave the approaches to each bridge.

Each bridge was constructed in the mid-1960's and has a bridge deck rated at or near structurally deficient and in need of reconstruction due to deterioration. The bridges do not provide access to/from Burnt Mills Road to the Interstates; rather, they provide grade separation for local traffic traveling between Bedminster Township and Bridgewater Township on Burnt Mills Road. NJDOT anticipates the project being completed by the end of 2014.

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 www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.