Replacement of Berkshire Valley Road Bridge Delayed

Project Near Longwood Lake Shut Down Until Spring
Work has been stopped on the replacement of a Morris County-owned bridge on Berkshire Valley Road in Jefferson near Longwood Lake.
The project, which began last week, will not resume until the spring because of delays in construction of a culvert and the relocation of an existing gas main at the site. The culvert construction and gas line relocation are key aspects of the $835,000 project.
Morris County plans to replace 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.
The bridge, 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.