JACKSON – With Lake Enno as a backdrop, Ocean County officials recently joined with representatives from Jackson in deeming the second phase of the reconstruction of Bennetts Mills Road complete.
“This work has brought to the area a new bridge, a wider road and improved traffic signals,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Engineering Department. “These changes will benefit the many motorists who use this road each and every day.”
Construction on the 1-mile stretch of Bennetts Mills Road from County Line Road (Route 526) to Manhattan Street took about 18 months to complete – meeting the scheduled timeline.
The project cost about $7.5 million, including design, construction and right-ofway acquisitions, according to a press release.
“This project was helped along with the cooperation of Jackson and the utility companies who were charged with moving above-ground and below-ground utilities,” said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari. “By the utility companies working with us, we were able to meet our schedule and complete the work in a timely manner. We greatly appreciate their cooperation.”
Vicari joined with Jackson Mayor Mark A. Seda and other community representatives in cutting the ceremonial ribbon marking the completion of the work.
The work included the reconstruction of the bridge at Lake Enno, dam rehabilitation, road and drainage improvements.
Ocean County Engineer Ronald Lotrecchio noted that with the reconstruction of the bridge, the county during the last four years has replaced eight bridges that had been deemed functionally obsolete.
“The county has spent millions of dollars recently, making certain the spans our motorists use are safe,” Lotrecchio said. “We have diligently worked to make certain functionally obsolete bridges are replaced and we plan well into the future to make certain all of our spans are safe.”
Bennetts Mills Road was realigned at the area of the bridge in order to improve site distance and road safety.
The Bennetts Mills Road project also included modifications of two existing traffic signals at the intersection of Bennetts Mills Road with County Line Road and with Manhattan Street. A new traffic signal also was installed at the intersection of Bennetts Mills Road at the shopping plaza.
The county worked in conjunction with the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority in constructing a new sanitary sewer main at the project site.
Structural improvements include the rehabilitation of the existing dam that forms Lake Enno, and the reconstruction of the existing bridge that crosses the south branch of the Metedeconk River.
The project also included improvements to the intersection of Bennetts Mills and County Line roads, along with widening and reconstructing the road and milling and resurfacing of portions of both roads.
The project was funded by the Ocean County Board of Freeholders.
Green Construction Inc., South River, was the contractor on the project.