Two bridges spanning Route 287 in Bridgewater, New Jersey, are set for significant refurbishment after the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) gave a presentation last month to the Bridgewater town council outlining construction plans.
The bridge rehabilitation project has been in the works since January 2018, according to officials, when initial concept meetings began. The Prince Rodgers Avenue bridges were first built in 1963 and sit near the Bridgewater Commons Mall. Business owners raised concerns during the presentation over the impact construction might have on nearby retailers, along with worries from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District about increased walking times for students.
While officials are addressing those issues, NJDOT has presented the council with two main plans to consider.
The first plan involves a complete closure of the bridges for both pedestrians and vehicles. This approach would create significant traffic congestion in the area, but with a 13-month completion timeline this choice is NJDOT’s preference, according to the presentation.
The second plan would see only partial closure of the bridge, keeping it open to pedestrian traffic during construction. This approach carries an 18-month timeline. No cost estimates were provided for either plan during the presentation.
Both plans focus primarily on replacing the bridge decks, which is the main priority of the project. Additional work would include repairs to the superstructure and substructure to extend the bridges’ lives, though NJDOT engineers confirmed the bridges remain safe for use despite being structurally deficient. The project also includes replacing traffic signs with two new overhead structures and raising the bridge profiles by 2 inches.
A third option emerged during the discussion when Councilman Tim Ring suggested using temporary traffic lights to allow one-way traffic during construction, based on successful examples in New York. NJDOT officials said this was possible, though it would extend the construction timeline.
Final approved plans are expected in fall 2026, along with public information sessions. A contract award is planned for winter 2026-2027. No timeline has been set for when construction would begin, pending funding allocation.
According to officials, the bridges see an average traffic load of around 5,700 cars daily, projected to increase to 7,000 per day by 2040. Councilmembers have formed a subcommittee to continue discussions with NJDOT and address community concerns, particularly those of the mall and school district.
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