By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Work will begin next summer to reconstruct an 18th-century masonry arch bridge, the oldest in New Jersey, and replace another bridge, both on Route 206 over the Stony Brook.
The state Department of Transportation received permission this week from the Princeton Council for longer workdays to accommodate double shifts. Crews will able to work from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with residents living near the bridges favoring extended work hours to get the project “done,” one town official said Monday.
“They would rather have it be inconvenient hours for a short time than more convenient hours for a long time,” Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said at the council meeting.
Municipal engineer Deanna Stockton said this week that the four-month-job is due to begin toward the end of June and wrap up in late October. The state, however, has not put the contract out to bid yet, so she said that timing could be thrown off if the DOT “cannot award (a contract) within the time frame that they’ve allotted in the schedule.”
She also said the environmental permits the state has are “pretty stringent with work windows.”
The arch bridge was built in 1792, but problems with it surfaced Feb.22 when a stone parapet on the southbound lane collapsed — leading the bridge to be closed for emergency repairs. Further inspections revealed cracks and voids in the stone arches, with the bridge needing “extensive rehabilitation,” according to engineer the state hired for the project.
The DOT has said it made “sense” to fix that bridge and replace a 1930 bridge abutting it. The work will mean road closures on a busy highway and detours for motorists to navigate their way around the area.
“It’s an important project, and we’re working with the DOT to get it done in a way that causes the least amount of aggravation and disruption as possible,” Mayor Liz Lempert said Tuesday.
She said communication would be “key” and noted that the police department would work with the DOT to finalize the detour route.
The DOT has worked with the local historic preservation commission about refurbishing the bridge in a historically sensitive way, Mayor Lempert said.
