New state website offers updates for Route 15 temporary bridge installation in Jefferson Township
Local businesses around Route 15 SB are open
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has a new website with information related to the Route 15 temporary bridge installation over the Rockaway River in Jefferson Township.
The website provides project updates and additional information to the public.
Route 15 southbound traffic was reduced to one lane on Monday, June 3, when movement was observed on the 124-year-old bridge abutments.
Then on Tuesday, June 4, the roadway exhibited distress and NJDOT made the decision to fully close the bridge to traffic out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of the public and workers.
Jefferson Township Mayor Eric Wilsusen declared a state of emergency on Thursday, June 6 over the unplanned closure of the Route 15 southbound.
On Friday, June 14 Jefferson Township held their weekly NJDOT Legislative, Elected Official update with the NJDOT Acting Commissioner and his staff. The plan design for the temporary bridge is completed, and foundation work has begun. The temporary bridge steel sections are starting to be built right in Lafayette Township, Wilsusen said.
“We expressed our continued frustrations with the detour/diversion traffic backup, delays, and other issues. We were assured that all were working to make it better,” Wilsusen said.
Wilsusen and his staff then met with NJDOT engineers on Route 15 southbound by Taylor Road, working on better access down to Taylor Road and such.
“After that, we drove the detour only to be in basically stand-still traffic. It appears the intersection of Espanong & Minnisink is mostly the culprit. Again, numerous calls were made to NJ DOT & NJSP to express our concerns and frustrations,” Wilsusen said.
Assemblyman Mike Inganamort of the 24th Legislative District, we are the 25th; Mike represents Sussex County and some portions of Morris and met me for an update on the closure.
“We visited the bridge construction, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the progress. When I was there at noon Thursday there was only a pile of gravel at the bridge. When I got there Friday at noon, they had a hole dug, formed out with rebar, and I was told they were ready to pour concrete for one of the foundations tomorrow and were digging the second!,” Wilsusen said.
“I drove around many parts of our town today during my travels. I could see firsthand how the detour/diversion affects our entire community. Lake Hopatcong is obviously getting the brunt of it all, but Milton/Oak Ridge is also dealing with issues. I am most concerned about the truck traffic. The NJSP Truck Enforcement Unit has been in town, and I hear I am not very popular with the truck-driving community at the moment. I make no apologies; it is about keeping our community safe,” Wilsusen said.
The anticipated opening of the temporary bridge is by July 19, NJDOT said.
