Rutgers Street Bridge

The existing bridge was built in 1925. Based on the 2015 Bridge Evaluation Survey Report, the superstructure of the bridge was seriously deteriorated with heavy sectional loss and corrosion throughout. Rutgers Street classified as a local road and the bridge serves as the only means of access to the Dover Waterworks Park. The project involved replacing the entire bridge at an estimated construction cost of $2.6M with minimum environmental impacts to adjacent riparian zone and wetlands. The west approach is within the footprint of the original Morris Canal, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places “Morris Canal (ID #2784)”. The roadway width of the bridge was substandard and needed to be widened to meet the minimum standards of Morris County and NJDOT. The structure carries three critical utilities serving the Township. Staged construction was required to maintain traffic throughout construction. The existing bridge remained in place for vehicular and pedestrian access. New construction was taking place adjacent to the south fascia. New water mains, sanitary sewer, and gas pipes were installed between the girders. Stage 2 construction diverts traffic, making connections between existing utilities at the approaches to the permanent utilities on the bridge, demolishing the existing bridge and utilities, and constructing the remainder of the bridge. Pedestrian traffic shared access until a new sidewalk is available. SJH’s scope of work included:

• Designed and developed plans and specifications for a single span 82’-0” long bridge. The superstructure consists of 55” deep welded weathering steel plate girders with 10½” thick concrete deck. The bridge was designed in accordance with the latest NJDOT Design Manual for Bridges and Structures and current AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. The roadway width accommodates two (2) 12’-0” lanes with 5’-0” sidewalk on the southside. The parapets are 3’-6” high with a stone facing and a bronze anodized aluminum railing on top.
• Designed the substructure and widened approach roadways following the latest NJDOT Roadway Design Manual and National MUTCD standards.
• Developed itemized construction cost estimates, Special Provisions, prepared construction schedule in Primavera, and assisted with preparing the complete bid package.
• Developed a design to minimize project impacts on the wetlands and other environmental resources and prepared NJDEP permit applications including Flood Hazard Area General Permit No. 10 and Freshwater Wetlands General Permit No. 10A. Coordinated with NJSHPO regarding measures to minimize adverse impact to the historic Morris Canal.
• Developed design for challenging task of relocating utilities carried by the existing bridge (10” and 12” water mains in 20” casing pipes, 6” sewer force main, and 2” gas main).
• Developed staged construction plans to maintain traffic throughout construction.
• Provided geotechnical engineering including boring and foundation recommendations.
• Construction Inspection and Construction Support Services.