By BEN LEACH Press of A.C. Staff Writer | Friday, August 27, 2010
AVALON – The first major rehabilitation project in the history of the bridge that serves as the gateway to the shore borough is set to start immediately after the summer tourism season comes to a close.
Cape May County is planning to begin work on the Avalon Canal Bridge, which connects the borough to County Road 601, on Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day.
The project is funded through grants from the Federal Highway Administration and expected to cost $3.3 million.
County Engineer Dale Foster said it will be the first major rehabilitation for the bridge in its 43-year history.
“It’s held up pretty well,” Foster said.
Despite its proven track record, the bridge needs a lot of work done, Foster said.
The 158-foot-long concrete deck must be replaced after having been riddled with potholes over the years. The deterioration has caused spalls – areas of concrete that have popped up and broken free – to form along the bridge, Foster said.
In addition to fixing the bridge, the construction is intended to ease traffic patterns into the borough by next summer.
Mugrose Construction Inc. of West Caldwell, New Jersey is the general contractor for the project, and Gibson Associates of Ocean View in Dennis Township will serve as the project engineer.
Foster said the county plans to widen the bridge so there are two lanes leading into the borough and one leading out. The bridge now has just one lane in both directions.
Foster said new traffic signals will include a left-turn lane for drivers exiting the borough, something that’s currently not in place.
“It won’t take care of all the backups there, but it’s definitely going to help,” Foster said.
Foster said the construction will require lines run by Comcast, Verizon and Atlantic City Electric to be pulled above ground during the construction.
Work is expected to take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and normal traffic patterns are expected to resume in time for Memorial Day, Foster said.