Griggstown causeway reopens after three months

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — The new Griggstown causeway bridge, which spans the Millstone River and connects Montgomery to Franklin Township, opened Monday — the culmination of three months of construction.
   The bridge had been closed since Aug. 22.
   "The bridge was in poor condition, to say the least, and it was in desperate need of replacement," said Matt Loper, a Somerset County bridge engineer. "It was one of the worst in the county."
   Paid for by the state, the project totaled about $1.3 million and was undertaken by Marbro Inc.
   The bridge, which carries an average of 1,810 vehicles per day, looks very similar to how it used to look, Mr. Loper said.
   Mr. Loper explained that the sides of the bridge were replaced, the foundation was modified, stone-faced and repaired, and the roadway of the bridge was completely replaced. "Whatever you would see on the roadway is brand new," Mr. Loper said.
   In July, it was determined that there was severe corrosion to the stringers, forebeams and the truss members of the causeway, as well as broken welds, Mr. Loper said.
   As the causeway is a "major crossing," the bridge closing had proven burdensome to commuters, Mayor Louise Wilson said.