The county commissioners were quizzed about the rising cost of the proposed $350 million Middle Thoroughfare Bridge replacement project at their July 22 meeting.
“Who’s responsible to come up with the extra money that it’s going to take?” one resident asked the commissioners.
County Engineer Robert Church replied that the county was in the process of soliciting grants, and has not committed any money to the project other than for the design of the project.
“That’s why we’ve applied for a $220 million grant. And there’ll be other grants that will become available aside from that,” he said. “So we’re hoping to at least get 70% to 80% funded through grants.”
Church said inflation drives up the cost of everything, but the county has been putting money away as part of the bridge plan in anticipation of the project.
“There is funding that is available but not to that extent, but like any other infrastructure project, there’s going to be bonding that’s required,” he said.
Church had updated the commissioners on the project at their July 8 meeting. The project, as conceived in 2017, was initially expected to cost $220 million, but recent estimates have the cost at about $350 million. It is now seen as being completed sometime within the next decade.
The engineer told the Herald that there are several reasons for the cost increase. When the original study was done the county envisioned using the road shoulders for bike traffic; however, the state Department of Transportation requires a dedicated bike lane on the bridge, which meant it had to be widened by 5 feet.
In addition, the length of the Middle Thoroughfare Bridge was increased to allow for the desired height of the bridge. There were additional retaining walls required that were not in the original cost, and electronic tolling was added.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
