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Millburn Avenue Bridge

Monday, March 7, 2011

At Least Another Week Before Downtown Bridge Opened

The asphalt plants open on Monday, which is when the road can be paved.

It'll be at least another week before the work is done on the Millburn Avenue bridge. March 14 is when the asphalt plants open for the season, and that's when the paving of the new bridge can take place, said Anthony Puglisi, Essex County spokesman. Paving the road is the final step needed before the bridge can be completely opened to traffic. The bridge has been under construction since last July to replace the bridge over the West Branch of the Rahway River just east of Main Street. The southern side of the bridge was closed first, leaving two lanes open on the right side. The northern side of the bridge was closed in November for the second and final phase of the project. In November, county officials said they expected the project to …

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Millburn Avenue Bridge Could Open Soon

County officials say there could be an opening ceremony the first full week of March.

The Millburn Avenue bridge downtown could be fully open by the first full week of March. Anthony Puglisi, Essex County spokesman, said on Wednesday they hope to have an opening ceremony for the bridge the first full week of March, but they do not have a specific date yet on when the bridge would open. A date should be set early next week, he said. The construction company overseeing the bridge project, Cruz Construction, is scheduling the paving for the bridge now, he said. Once the bridge is paved, he said, it is essentially done and can be opened to traffic. The bridge has been under construction since last July to replace the bridge over the West Branch of the Rahway River just east of Main Street. The southern side of the bridge was …

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Busy Downtown Crosswalk to Be Closed for Two Days

The walkway between Gito and Coco across Millburn Avenue needs to be closed for the bridge construction project.

Cruz Construction workers are getting ready to put the pre-fabricated pieces of the new Millburn Avenue bridge into place, but it means one of downtown's busiest crosswalks will be closed for two days. James Suell, a Millburn Township Committee member, said during Tuesday's meeting the crosswalk on Millburn Avenue between Gito and Coco will be closed on Monday and Tuesday next week. The crosswalk needs to be closed because of the crane and other heavy equipment needed to install the pre-fabricated pieces of the bridge on those days. The construction crew installed the first half of the pre-fabricated pieces of the new bridge in October during the first phase of construction. A truck would pull up with a piece, a crane would pick it up and …

Friday, January 14, 2011

Snow Not Delaying Downtown Bridge Project

But the snow is taking away parking spaces downtown.

The recent snow hasn't caused any delays on the completion of the Millburn Avenue bridge project downtown, but it has caused for frustrations with parking. Dozens of inches of snow have fallen on Millburn-Short Hills since Christmas, but the $1.7 million project to demolish and replace the bridge just east of Main Street remains on schedule to be completed by March 1, according to county officials. "Despite the significant snowfall we have received over the past several weeks, work to replace the bridge remains on track for a spring opening," said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. in a written statement. "We are doing everything we can to minimize the inconvenience and keep the project on schedule. We appreciate your …

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Millburn Avenue Bridge Construction Shifts; Work To Be Done by March

The project shifted from the south side to the north side, causing delays on Millburn Avenue, and county officials promised the work would be done by March 1.

The construction on the Millburn Avenue bridge shifted from the south side to the north side on Wednesday, and county officials promise the work will be done by March 1. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and other county officials came to Millburn Wednesday afternoon to speak about the $1.7 million project and answer questions. Several local business owners attended the event on the newly closed portion of the bridge. "We know there are concerns and we'll try to expedite (the project)," he said. "We plan to have this done by March 1 if the weather cooperates." Officials said they would work as quickly as they could to get done, but the issues with utilities do not exist under the north side of the bridge like they did on the south …

Monday, November 22, 2010

Downtown Bridge Project Shifting on Wednesday

The project will shift from phase one on the south side to phase two on the north side. Delays are to be expected

The switch to the second phase of the Millburn Avenue bridge construction downtown will happen sooner than expected. The asphalt truck is due to be on the bridge, which is just east of Main Street, on Tuesday, and the switch will take place on Wednesday, according to Police Sgt. David Bonney. The traffic pattern will change along with the project moving from the south side to the north side of the bridge. Daniel Baer, the Millburn Township Committee liaison for the project, confirmed the plans to shift on Wednesday. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. will be at the bridge on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. to meet with the merchants about the changes, he said, and the shift will take place following the event. The Downtown Millburn …

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Bridge Construction to Switch to Second Phase Soon

It means changes in the traffic pattern once the construction switches to the north side of Millburn Avenue.

The construction crew is nearing finishing the first half of the Millburn Avenue bridge reconstruction project downtown, which means changes are coming in the next few weeks. Millburn Police Capt. Greg Weber said Cruz Construction officials, who are overseeing the project, have told them they anticipate switching the project from the south side to the north side on or about Dec. 1. It means the traffic pattern in the vicinity also will change at that time. On the bridge itself, the right lanes will open to traffic during the second phases, and the left lanes will be closed, he said. In the approach to the construction project at the intersection of Millburn and Main Street, the right two lanes will go straight, and right turns will be …

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Downtown Bridge Project Behind Schedule

The project is four days behind schedule, according to township officials.

The Millburn Avenue Bridge project is now behind schedule, and township officials say it's because the utility companies delayed required work that must be done under the bridge. Township Committee member Daniel Baer, who has been a liaison on the Essex County project, said during Tuesday night's meeting, the project is now four days behind schedule. The project had some days built in to allow for delays but that time has been used up, he said. Essex County officials are spending $1.7 million to remove and replace the downtown bridge just east of Main Street. The project is in two phases with the south side currently under construction. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said in a September press conference the project would shift …

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Putting the New Bridge Pieces in Place

The Millburn Avenue bridge pieces are being installed for the first phase.

If you're looking for parking in some areas of downtown Millburn, you might find bridge parts in those spaces. The construction crew in charge of the project to demolish and replace the Millburn Avenue bridge is at the phase where they are bringing in the prefabricated pieces of the new bridge. A truck pulls up next to the construction site, a crane lifts the piece and lowers it into place with the help of the crew on the ground. The final prefabricated pieces will be put into place on Wednesday. There are times when one lane of the two lanes of traffic is closed to bring in the pieces. The project is on schedule to move to its second phase on the other side of the street in late November.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Behind the Construction Curtain: A Bird's Eye View of the Downtown Bridge Project

Photos shot of the progress of the construction from near the Millburn Deli.

Construction is moving along on the Millburn Avenue bridge downtown. It's now to the point where nearly all of the entire original bridge on the right side has been removed. Soon the construction crew will move in the pre-fabricated new pieces for the bridge before the first phase ends and the construction moves to the left side. County officials said last month they expect the project to switch to the other side of the bridge in November.

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