Construction on the Route 518 bridge over the Delaware and Raritan Canal was stopped two days after construction began.
ROCKY HILL -- As three mayors of Somerset County municipalities held up a sign during rush-hour Friday morning imploring Gov. Chris Christie to fix the Route 518 bridge over the Delaware and Raritan Canal between Rocky Hill and Franklin, commuters enthusiastically honked their horns in support.
The bridge, a major connection point between Somerset and Middlesex counties and Rocky Hill, Millstone and Franklin, was closed on July 6.
Two days after replacement construction began on the bridge, Gov. Christie announced plans to shut down nonessential state-funded road projects amid a stalemate with state Senate lawmakers over a plan to fund the state's nearly broke Transportation Trust Fund.
The governor closed $3.5 billion worth of road and rail projects across the state.
"They knew this was coming and yet they allowed construction of the bridge to begin, and then have it shut down two days later," said Franklin Mayor Phil Kramer, who organized the protest. "The closure of this bridge has extended the commute of so many people and it's ruining businesses in Rocky Hill.
"But most importantly, it's interfering with first responders in the shared services between the surrounding towns in the case of an emergency."
Road funding ordered for emergency projects
Kramer, a democrat, was joined by Rocky Hill Mayor Jeff Donahue, an independent, and democratic Millstone Mayor Raymond Heck in holding a sign that read "Christie Fix This Bridge." Democratic candidate for Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo and Democratic Freeholder candidate Maria Rodriguez also joined the early-morning protest.
On Wednesday, with the state's Transportation Trust Fund "days away from exhausting all of its available funds," Gov. Christie issued an executive order to free money in the state budget to pay for any emergency road or rail work. The Route 518 bridge wasn't on the emergency list.
Christie and the leaders of the Senate and Assembly have agreed on the need for a 23-cent tax on gasoline sold in New Jersey to help replenish the Transportation Trust Fund, but they have competing plans for cushioning that blow for drivers.
Meanwhile, the closure of the Route 518 bridge has put a hardship on residents in the area.
"We have a mutual aid agreement with our fire department and first-aid rescue squad with surrounding areas but we've had to stop supporting communities on the east side of the river (Franklin, South Brunswick and Griggstown) because of the bridge closure," said Donahue.
"Furthermore, the closure has added 45 minutes of travel time to the University Medical Center in Princeton at Plainsboro for our residents. What happens if someone has a heart attack?"
Donahue added that the increased detoured traffic in the area is a danger to residents because it goes through small streets.
Heck said the bridge closure is exasperating in times of an emergency because of the small, two-lane rural roads in the area that hinders huge vehicles from passing through.
"Emergency personnel deal in minutes," he said.
List of road projects shut down
Kramer said he wanted to call attention to the situation because his wife recently noticed that all of the construction equipment for repairing the bridge had been removed from the site.
"That means it's going to be forever for this bridge to get fixed," said Kramer.
Despite his concern, Kramer said he understands that Gov. Christie is being faced with tough decisions.
"I'm not going to tell the governor how to pay for fixing the bridge," he said. "I understand the issues on both sides. But this bridge needs to be fixed. You hear the response of the commuters. The closure of this bridge has brought them hardships and they want to see it fixed."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.