CREST HAVEN — Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster announced that the emergency repairs needed on the Great Channel Bridge linking Stone Harbor and Middle Township on Stone Harbor Boulevard (CR 657) due to a partially broken floorbreak in the eastbound lane will start on July 30.
Allied Painting, Inc., of Cherry Hill, will perform the necessary repairs to the bridge. The repair work will require the movable span to be in an open position, therefore, the work will be completed during the overnight hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work will be done on July 30, 31 and Aug. 1.
The work will be done so as not to interfere with weekend traffic.
Foster sent a letter to Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters July 23 informing her of the repair, but copies were also sent to Middle Township public safety agencies and various municipal and county departments.
Foster informed freeholders at the July 23 meeting of the situation. He said an alert bridge operator had noticed a banging noise from beneath the movable (bascule) span when traffic, especially trucks, crossed. An inspection by a county engineer discovered “a partially broken floorbreak at the heel of the west leaf of the movable span in the eastbound lane.”
Had the problem been ignored, Foster said it was likely “a large gap in the bridge” would have resulted that “would be difficult for vehicles to traverse.”
The county resorted to an Internet bid solicitation to 21 potential contractors. Two bid on the job, and the job went to Allied Painting, Inc. of Cherry Hill, which will perform the repair.
Foster noted in the letter that the contractor was on site July 23 in the morning to take measurements and will start to fabricate the new structural steel shape that will repair the defect.
The earliest Allied Painting could be “in position” to begin repairs would be mid-week of July 29, he wrote.
The contractor will provide the various emergency services with 48 hours advance notice of any bridge closure. Additionally, portable variable message signs will be placed at each end of the bridge in advance of the start of the work to alert the motoring public as to the overnight work and closure.
Foster said the defects in the floorbreak were not evident last fall when a biannual bridge inspection was done.
“Therefore, it only happened recently and could not have been anticipated,” Foster said.
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