CREST HAVEN – The movable, southwest bascule span, of the 96th Street Bridge linking Middle Township and Stone Harbor, has once again shown its age. The weakness of the 90-year-old span meant freeholders had to approve a resolution March 24 to fix it, estimated at $200,000.
Because of the situation, the load limit was reduced, also by freeholders’ action, to 15 tons. The speed limit was also reduced to 30 mph to lessen impact on the supports.
Repairs will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. with closure of the bridge. Work will be staged, so that the bridge will be open to traffic in the daytime.
County Engineer Robert Church reported at the board’s caucus, that the consultant found steel framing and southwest bascule girder in need of repair.
He noted that the work will be done on a “time-and-material” basis, so that expenses could be closely monitored.
The board declared an emergency, which allowed it to act quickly and bypass the normal bidding procedures. A contract was awarded that day to South State Inc., of Bridgeton.
The resolution noted that had the county followed normal procedures to bid the project, “the safety of the public would be at risk and said work could conflict with other bridge that provides access to Stone Harbor.”
Church stated depending reply to a Herald inquiry, that the “situation is very fluid and this estimate could change depending upon the final direction and scope provided by the consultant.”
In a separate, bridge-related resolution, the board authorized a change order for $314,404 to Michael Baker International Inc. for professional services related to miscellaneous repairs to Ocean Drive Bridges.
Those bridges are along Ocean Drive and include Corson’s Inlet, Grassy Sound and Middle Thorofare.
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Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
