Work on the Route 518 bridge over the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Franklin Township will resume on Monday, the state Department of Transportation announced Friday.
FRANKLIN TWP. - Work on the Route 518 bridge over the Delaware & Raritan Canal will resume on Monday, the state Department of Transportation announced Friday.
Work stopped when the state's Transportation Trust Fund ran out of money.
Somerset County officials in September announced a plan to get the $2.75 million project, which has caused daily traffic nightmares, back on track by reaching an agreement with the DOT to fund the work.
The project is expected to be completed early next year.
On Nov. 8, voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating proceeds from the recently-enacted 23-cent gas tax go toward transportation projects. The vote followed a deal allowing for the gas tax increase, which, combined with hikes in diesel fuels and non-motor fuels prices, will fund an eight year, $16 billion transportation program.
Tarheel Enterprises, Inc. will restart work on Monday by completing drill shafts necessary for new bridge piers, according to the state DOT.
Work to reconstruct the bridge will include milling and paving the approaches to the bridge, removing and replacing the existing piers, installing new precast abutment caps on either side of the canal, replacing the support beams and pouring a new stamped concrete deck which will resemble wood to blend in with nature and D&R Canal.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1950, requires a full closure so it can be reconstructed because of severe deterioration of the support beams, according to the DOT. Demolition work on the bridge began in July before projects were put on hold pending the renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund.
At the time that the bridge was closed, the following detour was put in place and remains in effect:
Traffic from eastbound Route 518 and southbound Route 206:
- Motorists traveling eastbound on Washington Street (Route 518) will be directed to make a right onto Crescent Avenue
- From Crescent Avenue, right onto Kingston Road (Route 605), which becomes River Road
- From River Road motorists will make a left onto Route 27 north and then continue back onto Georgetown Franklin Turnpike (Route 518)
Traffic from westbound Route 518:
- Motorists traveling westbound on Georgetown Franklin Turnpike (Route 518) will be directed to make a left onto Route 27 south
- From Route 27 south, motorists will be directed to make a right onto River Road (Route 605), which becomes Kingston Road
- From Kingston Road, traffic will bear left onto Crescent Avenue
- From Crescent Avenue, motorists will continue onto Washington Street (Route 518)
Traffic from southbound Canal Road:
- Motorists traveling southbound on Canal Road will be directed to continue straight past the bridge, which becomes Kingston Rocky Hill Road and then Laurel Avenue
- From Laurel Avenue motorists will make a right onto Route 27 and another right onto CR605/River Road (Route 605)
Traffic from southbound Route 27 to Route 518:
- Motorists traveling southbound on Route 27 will be directed to go straight on Route 27 and make a right onto River Road (Route 605), which becomes Kingston Road
- From Kingston Road, traffic will bear left onto Crescent Avenue
- From Crescent Avenue, motorists will continue onto Washington Street (Route 518)
Craig Turpin may be reached at cturpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NJeditor. Find NJ.com on Facebook.