Two bridge projects will begin shortly

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   Two area bridges — one large and one small — will be work sites shortly.
   The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) announced Monday that it has awarded a construction contract for repaving and other repairs on the approach roadways, overpasses and ramps that carry traffic to and from the New Hope-Lambertville toll bridge on Route 202.
   The toll bridge is one of the spans between the two states over which the DRJTBC has jurisdiction.
    THE OTHER PROJECT involves a closing of an inter-county bridge on Route 518, over which the Hunterdon County Department of Public Works, Division of Roads, Bridges and Engineering has jurisdiction.
   This closing will affect area motorists who use Route 518.
   A spokesman said the bridge over Stony Brook, located one-fifth mile east of Route 31’s junction with Route 518, will be closed on or about April 1 for reconstruction.
   The job is expected to take about four months to complete.
   A detour will be posted.
   The bridge is designated as an inter-county bridge, because Route 518 runs along the border between East Amwell and Hopewell townships. The contractor for the work on the bridge is Interstate Contracting and Excavating, LLC.
    DRJTBC spokesman Joe Donnelly said the toll bridge work will include:
   — Rehabilitation, repair and repaving of Route 202 approach roadway segment leading to and from the toll bridge in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
   — Rehabilitation, repair and repaving of associated on/off ramps to Pennsylvania Route 32 and New Jersey Route 29;
   — Repointing, joint sealing and concrete repairs to the overpass that carries Route 202 across Route 32/River Road in Pennsylvania;
   — Extensive repairs on the approach bridge that carries Route 202 across Route 29 in New Jersey, including repair of deteriorated concrete, blast cleaning and repainting of structural steel members, deck joint work, and replacement of 16 bearings — the structural steel devices that transfer the bridge’s deck load to the masonry abutments below.
   The construction also includes an improvement of the grading and drainage systems at the ramp infield area of the Route 202 and River Road interchange on the Pennsylvania side of the bridge.
   ”A precise schedule for the work has not been established yet, but construction activities are expected to begin in middle of spring,” Mr. Donnelly said. “The commission’s goal is to complete the various work elements by late fall.”
   The construction contract was awarded to the firm of James D. Morrissey, Inc. of Philadelphia, in the amount of $6,683,640.40. James D. Morrissey, Inc. was the lowest responsible bidder, the DRJTBC said.