ABERDEEN and KEYPORT, NJ – The Board of Chosen Freeholders have authorized the replacement of County Bridge MA-14 on Amboy Avenue/West Front Street over Matawan Creek. With construction beginning next week, the bridge will close to vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Monday, May 16 and remain closed through November 2017. The existing bridge, built in 1916, will be replaced by a new structure.

“A 100 year old bridge over Matawan Creek, which was last renovated in 1981, needs to be replaced,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, who is liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering. “Motorists should expect travel delays in the area throughout the bridge replacement project and follow the detour signs to bypass the construction zone.”

The project involves the replacement of the existing four-span steel girder bridge on a similar alignment to the existing and with a similar structure type. The existing bridge and approaches are within the 100-year flood area and subject to impacts from high tides and storm surge flooding. The roadway profile will be raised to provide 12 feet of clearance.

The new four span bridge will be approximately 350 feet long and will consist of:

• Reinforced concrete abutments and piers supported by drilled shaft foundations.
• Roadway supported on Column Supported Embankment System.
• Painted steel girders.
• Reinforced concrete deck slabs and sidewalks.
• Bridge traffic and pedestrian barriers consisting of open steel railing systems.
• Decorative pedestrian lighting provided on both sides of the bridge.
• Reconstruction of the approach roadways: asphalt surfaced roadways, retaining walls, sidewalks and upgraded safety features.

Substantial completion of the project is anticipated by the end of 2017 with final completion expected by the end of March 2018.

Detour signs will be posted in the Aberdeen and Keyport areas. Route 35 is the major highway serving as an alternative route to the closed bridge over Matawan Creek. Signs on Amboy Avenue/W. Front Street (CR 6), Prospect Ave. (in Aberdeen), Broadway (in Keyport) and Route 35 will assist drivers in bypassing the construction area.

Motorists in Aberdeen should follow the detour signs on Amboy Ave. (CR 6) directing travelers through the Prospect Avenue intersection and then follow signs at the Shore Concourse to access Route 35 as an alternate route.

Travelers in Keyport should follow detour signs on W. Front Street (CR 6), turning onto Broadway to access Route 35.

George Harms Construction Company in Howell is the contractor for the $23.5 million project. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is contributing $22.276 million of federal dollars (95 percent) towards the project

To learn more about this project visit the County website at www.visitmonmouth.com.

In total, the county maintains of approximately 1,000 lane miles of roads, 980 bridges and culverts and 250 traffic signals and beacons.

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