Three County Bridges Get $2.9 million in State Grants

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced Aug. 6 the grant solicitation period for FY20 Local Bridges Fund program is open, with applications being accepted through Oct. 16, 2019.
According to a release, three Cape May County bridges will receive a total of $2.9 million from the program.
Townsends Inlet spans 1-7 replacement $1 million.
Ocean Drive over Middle Thorofare Bridge railing replacement $1 million.
Corson’s Inlet substructure rehabilitation $919,000.
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation is committed to maintaining and improving New Jersey’s local transportation infrastructure by providing funds to make critical improvements to county-owned bridges, over which thousands of motorists travel daily,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti stated. “Using money generated by the gas tax allows NJDOT to support our communities and improve all roads and bridges in the State.”
Local Bridges Fund is a $47.3 million program funded through the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), which provides funding for each of New Jersey’s 21 counties for the improvement of county bridges. Every county receives $1 million and the additional funding is allotted based on a formula, according to bridge size.
As part of the department’s statewide capital investment strategy, the grants are intended to help counties focus on the bridges under their jurisdiction with the greatest structural deficiencies.
The grants are administered by the NJDOT Divisions of Local Aid and Economic Development, evaluated by the Division of Bridge Engineering and Infrastructure Management, and are funded through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. 
Each year, Local Aid grants represent a significant portion of Local System Support, which also includes local lead projects, regional planning and project development, and transportation alternative projects.