The new structure has a projected lifespan of approximately 75 to 100 years. It is the County’s responsibility to be fiscally frugal and to improve safety. The new structure will provide the availability to allow fire apparatus and ambulances a better response time to an emergency and also school buses a more direct route to the Bear Tavern School. Finally, the County’s plan to relocate the existing bridge to another area of the township for use as a pedestrian bridge in a park will not only ensure its historical value is retained, but allow it to be used and admired for many generations of Hopewell residents in the future.

In February 2009, the township’s HPC officially supported the Alternatives 5A/5B Modified 3, which calls for a new single-span bridge and relocation of the original structure to a location selected by the HPC. These efforts culminated in the township’s adoption of a resolution in March 2009 supporting the same. In May 2009, the State Historic Preservation Office concurred and also supported the plan. Most recently, area residents were provided the opportunity to present their concerns for the proposal at the Sept. 8, 2009 meeting of the Mercer County freeholder board as well as the Sept. 9, 2009 meeting of the Hopewell Township HPC.  Mercer County will continue to engage the public as its moves forward with required studies and how to best preserve this historic setting.

The southerly terminus of the proposed curve associated with the Jacobs Creek Bridge realignment would be approximately 400 feet south of existing Jacobs Creek Bridge and would have a posted speed limit of 35 MPH.  According to national engineering design standards (A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, 2001), a vehicle could achieve a 40 MPH travel speed from a full stop in approximately 360 feet.  In the northbound direction, vehicles would also be limited by the 40 MPH design speed of the proposed curve.  Since the distance between the southerly terminus of the proposed realignment and Jacobs Creek Bridge is in excess of the distance needed to stop and turn left from a 40 MPH travel speed, no increase in travel speed would result at the subject curve in either the northbound or southbound direction whether the bridge is realigned or not.  In fact travel speeds may actually decrease on the curve immediately south of Jacobs Creek Road with the new alignment.  In summary, realigning Jacobs Creek Bridge does not increase travel speed on the curve near the Jacobs Creek Bridge and would consequently not worsen traffic safety conditions on this section of Bear Tavern Road.  Also, as discussed in previous correspondence, many of the conditions and circumstances that have contributed to the crashes on Bear Tavern Road north of the bridge would be alleviated with the realignment of Bear Tavern Road and replacement of Jacobs Creek Bridge.

The County recognized and concurred with local residents that the Passing Zone in front of Bear Tavern School was inappropriate and should be eliminated. The County and the County Freeholder Board quickly responded this issue, and in mid-October 2009, the Passing Zone at this location has been eliminated and the road was re-striped. There is now “no passing” along the majority of Bear Tavern Road.

Also, in 2008, Mercer County was contacted by local residents as well as the Ewing Township police and asked to address traffic safety conditions at the curve on Bear Tavern Road near Jacobs Creek Road.  There was a reported history of numerous crashes involving motorists losing control and veering off of the roadway.  The relatively steep grade and a sharp horizontal curve were presumably significant contributing factors.  Both short and long term measures to address these conditions were evaluated. 

Realignment and regrading of Bear Tavern Road in the vicinity of Jacobs Creek Road is neither practical nor feasible.  Upon conducting a review of this situation, however, it was determined that existing signs should be upgraded and new signs installed.  In November 2008, advance warning signs were added and existing signs were replaced with larger signs.  Mercer County also installed “chevron” signs to better delineate the curve.  Recent crash data provided by the Ewing Township Police Department shows a significant decrease in crashes from 15 in 2007 to 3 in 2009.  Mercer County is also installing in-pavement reflectors or Raised Pavement Markers (RPMs) on the approaches and through the subject curve, which will further increase the visibility of the roadway, particularly during low ambient light and wet weather conditions.

Motorists traveling to and from Pennsylvania are now often faced with delays using Scudder Falls Bridge.  Consequently, commuters divert to alternative routes, including Bear Tavern Road and Washington’s Crossing Road to cross the Delaware River.  An improved Scudder Falls Bridge would presumably provide a more desirable and direct route to regional employment centers thereby diverting traffic from local roads.  Furthermore, if approved by the State, trucks over 4 tons would not be permitted to use Bear Tavern Road north of I-95.