Cites Impact on Region’s Businesses, Residents
Senator Sean Kean (R-Monmouth) is calling on the NJ Department of Transportation to postpone construction of the new Highlands Bridge until the close of the summer tourism season.
Kean said construction on the span linking Highlands and Sea Bright has already had a serious impact on the citizens who travel the bridge as well as local businesses.
“During the summer, thousands of tourists flock to this area making our roadways some of the most congested in the state,” he said. “Embarking on this massive construction project during the height of the summer tourism season will seriously impact on residents and businesses throughout the region.”
The construction began in February to erect a new bridge parallel to the present structure over the Shrewsbury River. The project would replace the 75 year old historic landmark with a new structure that would be twice the height of the existing bridge at 65 feet high.
It is expected that only one bridge lane each way will be open to traffic when the next phase of construction commences on June 23.
“Last weekend we saw traffic delayed for hours as motorists departed from Sandy Hook and the other local beach areas, ” commented Kean. “We should delay construction until after Labor Day to mitigate the hardship this construction will have. By starting after the summer, we will only have to endure this situation for one summer season instead of two.”
Despite vast public opposition to the project and recent corruption charges against a state DOT worker, the project has continued to move forward. Construction to remove the old roadway has already begun and will take place 7 days a week. The project is expected to last three years until it is completed.
Senator Kean previously sent letters to the DOT Commissioner Kris Kolluri requesting that he put a hold on the project and in a separate letter also asked US Attorney Christopher Christie to properly investigate the situation.
Link to Post:
Similar Posts:
- None Found
