HOWELL – The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has taken action to ensure repairs will be made to a bridge in Howell that was damaged during the summer.
On Oct. 25, the freeholders awarded an emergency $1.574 million contract to Lucas Construction Group Inc. to perform repairs to bridge HL-59 on Ramtown-Greenville Road over Muddy Ford Brook in Howell.
County officials temporarily closed the bridge after a torrential rain storm hit Howell on Aug. 13. Flooding ensued and Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in Monmouth County, according to a resolution passed by the freeholders.
The bridge has remained closed since Aug. 13 due to road undermining and the need for necessary repairs. The proposed improvements entail demolition and removal of the existing road, restoration of the stream bed, stabilization of the north abutment, various timber repairs and other work, according to the resolution.
The freeholders said “the immediate repair of bridge HL-59 and the reopening of Ramtown-Greenville Road is vital to the public health, safety and welfare.” The freeholders said the road closure impacts emergency responders, and ingress and egress for residents and businesses.
On Oct. 12, the Monmouth County Division of Engineering received informal competitive price proposals from three prospective contractors to perform the emergency repairs to the bridge. The proposals were received from Lucas Construction Group Inc., Sparwick Contracting Inc. and IEW Construction Group Inc.
Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore recommended that the county accept Lucas Construction Group’s proposal of $1,574,574. The funds are available in the 2018 county budget, according to the resolution.
In other county business involving Howell, the freeholders authorized the acquisition of an 11.36-acre property that will be added to the Metedeconk River Greenway.
The vacant parcel is known as the Wang et. al. property and it is on Ford Road. The county plans to acquire the parcel for $525,000, according to a resolution. The purchase is contingent upon satisfactory title and environmental review of the property.
The Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners recommended the purchase of the property to the freeholders for county open space preservation, natural resources conservation and public park and recreation purposes.
The funds to purchase the tract will come from the Monmouth County Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, according to the resolution.