Union Beach bridge reopens

UNION BEACH - The Union Avenue bridge spanning Flat Creek was reopened last Thursday, after being shut down since February for reconstruction.

The reopening marks the completion of two bridge replacements performed by Marbro Inc. of Montclair under a single contract. The Union Avenue bridge and the Stone Road bridge, which connect Keyport to Union Beach, were both previously listed as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete on the state Department of Transportation's inventory of bridges, but have been rebuilt in accordance with current design standards.

The cost of rebuilding the Union Avenue and the Stone Road bridges were $2 million and $2.75 million, respectively, and were paid for with funds provided through the 1999 Bridge Bond Act.

The new Union Avenue bridge, constructed with a prestressed concrete deck on new concrete abutments and a curbto curb roadway width of about 35 feet, replaces the old concrete-encased steel stringer deck bridge.

Features include 5-foot-8-inch-wide sidewalks on both sides of the bridge, concrete parapets with ornamental pedestrian hand railing, and upgraded safety features including new guide rails with upgraded end treatments. Also, a new storm-drainage system has been incorporated into the reconstruction, which is intended to help limit solids in stormwater runoff from discharging into Flat Creek.

"These are safe, modern bridges capable of carrying full legal loads as well as pedestrian traffic," Freeholder Director William C. Barham said in a press release. "The county is actively making infrastructure improvements in many parts of the county, much of which is being paid for with state and federal funding. I thank the residents for their patience during construction."