THE BOARD OF Chosen Freeholders and County Engineer Joseph Ettore should be commended for delivering the Hubbard’s Bridge opening on time and just a tad over projected cost.
What a joy to drive over the bridge and not through backed-up, detoured traffic. Anyone trying to get into Red Bank – and worse leave at rush hour – understands the frustration since the bridge was shut down in January.
There was no good way to get around.
Even though the county tried to plan the closure with the least impact on traffic, everything from getting to and home from work, to picking up the kids to just taking in a show or dinner in town had a time add-on and a long one.
The freeholders promised the bridge, spanning the Swimming River on West Front Street, would be open before Memorial Day weekend and it was – a good five days ahead of schedule. And the bill was $12.9 million, which is mighty close to the projected cost of $12.7 million considering this type of project. Ettore said most of that additional cost was caused by the removal and disposal of regulated materials. A great deal more work must be done on the bridge and the old bridge must be dismantled; with projections have it being finished by April 2016. The aesthetics of the bridge are lovely and we doubt too many folks miss the noise of crossing the old version.
One minor criticism.
Why are the railings so high they block the view of the beautiful water it crosses?
The view from the old bridge was serene and something to look forward to after a long day at work.
Still, it’s a joy to have access to the bridge back and if that’s the price, then so be it. The sidewalks also offer a safer approach for pedestrians and cyclists, which is a welcome addition.
Job well done by the county.
