Eagleswood Route 9 Bridge Replacement Set For Start

Drivers in Eagleswood who frequent Route 9 can expect to cruise over a new bridge by this time next year.

New Jersey Transportation Department officials today announced the start of a $2,900,000 federally-funded project to replace the Westecunk Creek Bridge. Site mobilization and sign placement begins this week, with construction set to start within the next month.

Belleville-based  Ritacco Construction has the contract to replace the span that's listed as structurally deficient.  During the project, traffic flow is expected to channel into one lane during peak hours.

In a release, NJDOT says that the span will be raised 22 inches to meet federal standards, and is expected to help alleviate flooding problems. The precast concrete span is designed for one 12-foot-wide travel lane and a 10-foot-wide shoulder in each direction.

The current span was built in 1925. NJDOT estimates that it carries about 13,000 vehicles a day, noting that the number rises significantly during summers.

Work is expected to reach completion by spring 2013.