CORBIN CITY — An information session Aug. 13 at Corbin City Municipal Building was hosted by N.J. Department of Transportation. It lasted three hours for those interested in learning details of the Route 50 and Tuckahoe River Bridge project.
The project entails totally replacing the current Tuckahoe River Bridge and, in tandem, reconstructing about one mile of Route 50. The existing movable bridge has been determined to be structurally deficient and the area is also known as one where many accidents occur.
The bridge will be replaced with a fixed steel span. The project is federally funded and is estimated to cost $11.7 million.
While there was no new information announced, the continuous stream of people seemed to appreciate the opportunity afforded by NJDOT to answer questions and address concerns.
The NJDOT staff present was eager to engage with those who attended. Project engineer, Thomas Gallagher, Jr., said, “We have an office at the intersection of Routes 50 and 49 in Tuckahoe and all are welcome to stop in at any time for more information.”
Traffic Patterns to Change
Tuckahoe-Mt. Pleasant Road will become a one-way road in response to the high rate of accidents occurring at the intersection of Route 50 and Reading Avenue. To accommodate the additional traffic as a result of that change the intersection of Marshall Avenue and Route 50 will be widened as will Kendall Lane.
At the session participants had the opportunity to look at design plans related to all phases of the construction project, ask questions and raise concerns with NJDOT representatives. The project has elicited controversy for a number of reasons.
Summer traffic has been backed up for miles because of the construction and a related “No Turn on Red” sign that has been newly posted at the intersection of Routes 50 and 49.
Safety Concerns
Residents are concerned the traffic issues are reaching the level where they have become a safety concern.
Residents are also concerned that construction will occasion significant inconvenience. While bridge construction takes place, in stages during the expected period of a start date this fall until spring 2017, the bridge will have only one lane of alternating traffic open to drivers.
“We’ll begin soon after Labor Day and then the real visible work and inconvenience will start in October,” said Gallagher.
A traffic signal will control the alternating northbound and southbound traffic. Of particular interest to residents is that emergency vehicles will be using a remote control to trigger a green light to ensure they can cross the bridge.
Truck traffic will need to make detours via Route 49, Cape May Avenue, and Cumberland Avenue around the bridge. NJDOT will add sidewalks and decorative lighting for some of the construction along Route 50.
Permits in Hand
Per an earlier statement, NJDOT stated that it has obtained Flood Hazard Area, Freshwater Wetland, Coast Wetland, CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act) and Waterfront permits from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection for the project. It also has permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard to implement the construction along Tuckahoe River as well as approval from the N.J. Pinelands Commission
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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