Rosenello Ends 9 Years on Bridge Commission

CREST HAVEN – Patrick Rosenello ended nine years of service on the Cape May County Bridge Commission at the April 29 meeting.
Serving as commission chairman, Rosenello, who is also mayor of North Wildwood, ran a short meeting that saw Karen Coughlin reappointed as executive director, and Lewis Donofrio given another term as chief engineer before the commission passed a resolution thanking Rosenello for his service. 
Looking Back
Speaking about three recent accomplishments at the commission, Rosenello cited the new shared services agreement with Cape May County. “If all parties live by this agreement, it should smooth the working relationship between the commission and the county,” Rosenello said.
One accomplishment Rosenello gave special attention to was the conversion to E-Z Pass for the commission’s five-toll bridges. He noted that one year after E-Z Pass began operation on the bridges, 75 percent of the revenue on the bridges was coming from the E-Z Pass option. “The numbers speak for themselves,” he added.
The third item Rosenello identified as a critical accomplishment was the fact that a “real plan now exists to replace the commission bridges” that have reached the end of their natural life spans.
He noted that while federal and state dollars would be sought for the projects, “the county now has a financial plan in place that will allow critical work to move forward.”
Rosenello specifically cited the need to replace the Middle Thorofare Bridge which connects Cape May to Wildwood Crest. This was the first of the commission’s bridges to open. “This bridge has got to be replaced,” Rosenello said. 
Townsend’s Inlet Bridge Update
During the meeting, Donofrio gave a brief update on capital projects including the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge. “We are out of the woods with piling testing,” Donofrio said, indicating that the project was ready to move ahead from the piling problems that had stalled the project. While he gave no new schedule for completion of the work, he indicated that a new schedule should be forthcoming from the contractor in the next two weeks. 
Project Woes
Construction challenges have plagued the project. Early estimates called for work to be completed by May 2019, but the bridge is likely to be closed throughout the early summer with the most recent best case scenario being completion in late summer.
Rosenello cautioned that the project is under the direction of the County Engineer’s Office and any new estimates should come from there.
Freeholder Will Morey thanked Rosenello for his work at the commission. Morey gave no word on when the freeholders would appoint a new member to the commission.
The commission was created by the county as a means of construction of a coastal highway series of toll bridges.  The commission held its first meeting in 1934.
Today, the commission oversees five toll bridges. In addition to Middle Thorofare and Townsend’s Inlet bridges, these include the Grassy Sound Bridge, the Corson’s Inlet Bridge, and the Ocean City Longport Bridge. Toll revenue amounts to $2.8 million annually.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.