Berkshire Valley Road Bridge Near Longwood Lake to be Replaced

Work Begins Oct. 1, Road to Remain Open for Traffic
Replacement of a Morris County-owned bridge on Berkshire Valley Road in Jefferson near Longwood Lake will begin Thursday, Oct. 1, but it will remain open to traffic during the four to six months anticipated for construction.
The $835,000 project, funded by Morris County, will include replacement of the existing span and both roadway approaches. The current structure was built in 1970 and supports an estimated 9,300 vehicles daily over a 36-foot wide, two-lane roadway, leading north and south.
A temporary traffic signal will be in place to aid motorists in safe passage through the construction area.
The overpass, which spans a 60-inch reinforced concrete culvert pipe carrying a tributary leading to Longwood Lake, currently has defects that include cracking and small breaks in the approaching roadway, as well as settlements and some collision damage to the existing guide rails. The new bridge structure will be comprised of a precast rigid frame culvert with precast wing, and it will be supported by a precast foundation.
The county has been coordinating with Jefferson Township, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, other state agencies and the adjacent property owners throughout the design process.
Ferraro Construction Corporation of Franklin, New Jersey, the lowest responsible bidder, is the contractor on the project.