FREEHOLD – Responding to residents in Allentown and Upper Freehold, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has begun to advance a project that entails installing a temporary bridge over Doctor’s Creek in Allentown during construction of a new bridge and dam.

 

At public hearings in Allentown and Upper Freehold, County Engineer Joseph Ettore presented two options for replacing the Allentown Pond Dam and County Bridge U-12, which carries Route 524 (Main Street) over Doctor’s Creek in Allentown. The governing bodies of each town adopted resolutions supporting a temporary bridge rather than closing Main Street and having long detours.

 

“I am happy to be able to move forward with this important project,” said Freeholder William C. Barham, liaison to the Department of Pubic works and Engineering. “Keeping Main Street open to traffic will maintain the viability of the downtown Allentown. More importantly, the route will be available to emergency service vehicles, school buses and postal deliveries.

 

“This option insures the safety and convenience of the residents and patrons of Allentown and Upper Freehold,” Barham added.

 

The Board of Chosen Freeholders is seeking bids to install a temporary span across Doctor’s Creek before work begins to replace the Main Street Bridge and Allentown Dam. The original proposal – closing Main Street during construction – would cost $5 million and take 18 months, but it would shut the road and divide the borough through the downtown.

 

The proposal that residents favor – and the one the Freeholders are supporting – entails keeping Main Street open to traffic with the temporary bridge, eliminating two detour routes of two and eight miles. The project will cost $6.5 million and is expected to take 18 to 22 months to complete.

 

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