Hunterdon County receives nearly $1.8 million in state grants for four bridge replacement projects
HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — Hunterdon County has been awarded nearly $1.8 million through the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Fund Program to help replace four county bridges, county officials announced.
The funding will support bridge replacement projects in Readington, East Amwell and West Amwell townships while helping reduce costs to local taxpayers.
The grants awarded to Hunterdon County include:
- Bridge R-168 in Readington Township — $500,000
- Bridge R-124 in Readington Township — $500,000
- Bridge R-170 in Readington Township — $500,000
- Bridge WE-74 in East Amwell and West Amwell townships — $289,681
County officials said the funding will allow the county to continue investing in critical transportation infrastructure while minimizing the financial impact on residents.
Commissioner Zach Rich, liaison to the Department of Public Works, said obtaining outside funding remains essential to maintaining Hunterdon County’s transportation network.
“Hunterdon County’s roadway network is frequently recognized as one of the best maintained in New Jersey, and that reputation is the result of a long-term commitment to infrastructure investment and responsible planning,” said Commissioner Rich. “These grants help us continue that work by addressing critical bridge replacement projects while reducing costs to local taxpayers. With dozens of historic bridges and culverts throughout the county, pursuing outside funding remains an important strategy to preserve our infrastructure, enhance public safety, and maintain the high standard of our transportation network.”
The NJDOT Local Bridge Fund provides each of New Jersey’s 21 counties with a base allocation of $1 million, with additional funding distributed based on the number, size and condition of local bridges. The program focuses on repairing or replacing bridges with the greatest structural needs to improve safety and ensure the continued reliability of local transportation networks.
Since the program was established in 2009, the Local Bridge Fund has supported improvements to more than 600 bridges statewide. The grants are administered through NJDOT’s Local Aid Program and financed through the State Transportation Trust Fund.
Hunterdon County’s Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining hundreds of miles of county roads, along with numerous bridges and culverts throughout the county. County officials said the department routinely evaluates infrastructure conditions and aggressively pursues state and federal grant opportunities to help fund needed repairs and replacements while preserving the county’s long-term fiscal stability.
