By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
Motorists will have a bit easier time traversing the township now that the Friendship Road bridge is open.
Police re-opened the bridge on the East Side of the township Monday. It had been closed since late August when Hurricane Irene stormed through the community causing it to wash out.
”It is a good thing,” Township Spokesman Ron Schmalz said Wednesday. “It is extremely timely because it is spring and the activities at Rowland Park are starting up.”
Mr. Schmalz said Middlesex County fixed the bridge even though it lies on a municipal road.
”Anytime a bridge is repaired it is the county (that does the work),” Mr. Schmalz said.
Re-opening the bridge will also ease the commute for adjacent communities as well.
”It is not just for our township,” Mr. Schmalz said. “Many Plainsboro residents use it.”
The category one hurricane plowed into the township and state the last weekend in August with heavy rain and damaging winds.
According to officials, the county did some work on the bridge and put a metal plate down prior to the late August storm. When Hurricane Irene hit the town, however, the plates were driven up by the flood water and cracked the roadway, according to Mr. Schmalz.
The storm washed out a portion of the bridge and forced the township and county to close the road and erect signs warning of the danger.
Township Councilman John O’Sullivan, Mayor Frank Gambatese, Public Works Director Ray Olsen and police Chief Raymond Hayducka toured the township following the storm and found that the county had not placed appropriate barriers to let drivers know the bridge was closed, according to Mr. O’Sullivan.
The bridge has been under repair by the county for two years and the metal plate was installed as a temporary measure until appropriate permits could be obtained from the state Department of Environmental Protection for the repairs.
County crews had been working to restore the bridge and were able to finish repairs ahead of schedule, Mr. Schmalz said.

