Sunnymead Road reopened

By:Audrey Levine
   Sunnymeade Road reopened Aug. 22, according to John Kenzlak, Somerset County bridge coordinator, after the bridge near Falcon Road was replaced.
   Mr. Kezlak said that the repairs on the bridge, which were contracted out by the county to Empco Contracting Inc. in Dumont, had been originally scheduled for completion by Labor Day.
   "We met our goal by having the road reopen before school started," he said.
   The contract with Empco Contracting was for $475,000, and gave the company the task of replacing the bridge just past Falcon Road, because it was found to be in poor condition. Mr. Kenzlak said there was no specific trigger that forced the county to take action and replace the bridge, it simply was time for the repairs.
   "The bridge had seen its day," he said. "It was old and tired. We ripped out the whole bridge."
   The construction originally began on June 25.
   Mr. Kenzlak said the bulk of the work is now completed, with the only remaining project being minor repairs, including relocating a utility pole that had to be removed during the construction. He said this is expected to be finished within the week.
   As of now, Mr. Kenzlak said, the road is fully open to traffic, which had been redirected to Route 206 during the repairs.