Berkshire Valley Road In Kenvil Closed After Truck Accident

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A segment of Berkshire Valley Road in Kenvil was closed after a large truck became wedged under a railroad overpass and will remain closed for repair for most of the month.

The road segment closed extends between Hercules Road to North Dell Avenue for most traffic, with the exception of emergency vehicles.

The accident happened Tuesday morning, at around 7 a.m. The truck exceeded the 11-feet-5-inch clearance level, causing damage to the Chester Branch Railroad trestle.

Morris County maintains the railroad trestle as part of the Chester Branch Railroad system, which The Dover Rockaway River Railroad uses for freight deliveries. The trail line extends westward into Mount Olive Township, but the freight deliveries must now be handled by truck temporarily.

The county hired a design consultant and contractor to expedite the repairs to the bridge, but the work may take up to four weeks. The trestle is 120 years old, so the repair effort is complicated.

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) had been studying since Feb. the possibility of elevating the trestle, according to the County of Morris. While the project is still years from being finalized, the goal is to improve and maintain the freight rail service and to improve the traffic pattern along Berkshire Valley Road and North Dell Avenue

Improving the constraints on truck traffic of Berkshire Valley Road has the potential to facilitate industrial and economic growth, allow commercial trucks to avoid driving through residential areas and improve the quality of life in Roxbury Township, according to the NJTPA study.