The state Department of Transportation officials have announced that work on the Somerset County Route 518 bridge over the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Franklin will resume next week.
The state’s contractor, Tarheel Enterprises Inc., will restart work on Monday, Nov. 21, to complete drill shafts necessary for new bridge piers, the NJDOT said in an announcement on Friday.
Work to reconstruct the bridge will include milling and paving the approaches to the bridge, removing and replacing the existing piers, installing new precast abutment caps on either side of the canal, replacing the support beams, and pouring a new stamped concrete deck which will resemble wood to blend in with nature and the D&R Canal.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1950, requires a full closure so it can be reconstructed because of severe deterioration of the support beams. Demolition work on the bridge began in July before projects were put on hold pending the renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund. At the time that the bridge was closed, the following detour was put in place and remains in effect:
Traffic from Route 518 eastbound and Route 206 southbound:
• Motorists traveling east on Route 518/Washington Street will be directed to make a right onto Crescent Avenue. From Crescent Avenue, right onto Route 605/Kingston Road, which becomes River Road. From Route 605/River Road motorists will make a left onto Route 27 north and then continue back onto Route 518/Georgetown Franklin Turnpike.
Traffic from Route 518 westbound:
• Motorists traveling westbound on Route 518/Georgetown Franklin Turnpike will be directed to make a left onto Route 27 south. From Route 27 south, motorists will be directed to make a right onto Route 605/River Road, which becomes Kingston Road. From Route 605/Kingston Road, traffic will bear left onto Crescent Avenue. From Crescent Avenue, motorists will continue onto Route 518/Washington Street.
Traffic from Canal Road southbound:
• Motorists traveling south on Canal Road will be directed to continue straight past the bridge, which becomes Kingston Rocky Hill Road and then Laurel Avenue. From Laurel Avenue motorists will make a right onto Route 27 and another right onto Route 605/River Road.
