Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that replacement of the 103-year-old Gordon Street Bridge is in sight. The Board voted to award a contract for the design of a new bridge at its regular meeting on Thursday, September 11. Due to the complicated nature of the project, the design phase is expected to take approximately 18 months.
The Gordon Street Bridge is located near the western end of the border between Roselle Park and Roselle. It spans the railroad tracks between the two boroughs, at Gordon Street in Roselle. It connects two major east-west arteries, Route 28 and Route 610, which run parallel to the tracks on either side.
“The Gordon Street Bridge project underscores the importance of infrastructure to economic development,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “We expect that an update of this key connector will help businesses in Union County fill their transportation needs more effectively, create more convenience for commuters and travelers, and enhance our emergency response.”
The Gordon Street Bridge plays an important role in Union County’s roadway network, as one of only four railroad crossings between Roselle Park and Roselle. Of those four, only two are bridges. The other two crossings are below or at the grade level of the railway.
The original parts of the Gordon Street Bridge were constructed in 1911. A 1990’s-era reconstruction project added an extension at the south end of the bridge. The bridge was also rehabilitated in 2005 as a preventive measure, to address a deteriorating concrete deck and other deficiencies.
In addition to enabling the Gordon Street crossing to meet modern construction standards, the new bridge will be expanded from the existing two lanes to three lanes. The third lane will be used for left-hand turns at both ends of the bridge, to ease traffic flow.
The Gordon Street Bridge has been called an “orphan” bridge because it has no owner. Union County has been designated to oversee the design phase, which has been fully funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through an arrangement with the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
“This is a complicated project that involved county, state, and federal agencies working together to improve vital infrastructure that would otherwise be left in limbo,” said Hudak. “The Freeholder Board is very happy to see this project move forward.”
The design contract of approximately $750,000 was awarded to Hardesty & Hanover of West Trenton.
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