Rock Brook Bridge Construction In Hillsborough To Start Next Month

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Construction on a bridge damaged by Hurricane Ida over Rock Brook, Hillsborough and Montgomery Townships is slated to begin next month, Somerset County officials said.

As the county has finally acquired all permits and agency approvals (including FEMA, New Jersey's Historic Preservation Office and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approval) and revised Constructions Plans for the bridge and roadway embankment repairs have been finalized, construction work on the Rock Brook Bridge will start “as soon as possible.”

The current work schedule will see construction begin in mid- to late February 2023, “given current material procurement and fabrication lead times,” with work completion projected for late spring 2023.

T. R. Weniger, Inc. is under contract for construction, per an award granted by Somerset County officials in May 2021.

Known as the “Rock Brook Bridge”, the Zion-Wertsville Road Bridge, located approximately 300 feet east of the intersection of Hollow Road and Zion-Wertsville Road/Long Hill Road, closed to vehicular and pedestrian/bicycle traffic on Aug. 9, 2021 for construction repairs. However, flash flooding from Tropical Storm Ida damaged the three-span bridge, effectively halting further rehabilitation work.

“Our goal is to rebuild the “Rock Brook Bridge” as it was and continue with our planned rehabilitation work per the initial plan concept,” the county said in a statement.

A detour route will be posted along Hollow Road, Grandview Road, Pin Oak Road and Dutchtown-Zion Road during construction work, the county added. Local access to residential driveways will be available.