NJDOT announces Route 35 improvements
in Aberdeen and Old Bridge
Project to upgrade existing drainage, improve safety and provide congestion relief for stretch of highway between Greenwood Drive and Prospect Avenue
(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced the start of a safety improvement and congestion relief project along a 1.25 mile stretch of Route 35 between Greenwood Drive and Prospect Avenue in Aberdeen, Monmouth County and Old Bridge, Middlesex County.
Route 35 experiences chronic flooding along this stretch where a pair of culverts carry the roadway over Long Neck Creek and Whale Creek, often resulting in the closure of the highway. This $15.7 million project will raise the level of Route 35 by as much as four feet, with the highest increases in elevation at the culverts. Other work involves roadway rehabilitation, widening, drainage and safety improvements, replacing the two culverts and improvements to four intersections.
NJDOT’s contractor, Green Construction, is scheduled to begin preliminary construction activity, including sign installation and field mobilization this weekend. Utility relocation work will start in April, followed by the construction work. Due to environmental factors, work in the creeks is restricted until after July 1.
The long-awaited project will improve safety and drainage along Route 35 by raising the vertical profile at the stream crossings, replacing the drainage pipes with larger culverts to minimize the effects of tidal flooding and installing curb along the roadway. A new storm water drainage collection system will be installed to improve roadway drainage.
NJDOT will modify the existing signalized intersections at Birchwood Drive, County Road, Cliffwood Avenue and Amboy Avenue to optimize traffic flow and improve safety through the corridor.
Complete Streets pedestrian and bicyclst safety elements are included, such as the construction of new sidewalks at various locations within the project limits and the installation of pedestrian crosswalks and ramps at intersections.
All available travel lanes will be maintained on Route 35 during peak period travel hours. The work will be accomplished utilizing overnight lane closures and permanent shoulder closures with traffic shifts. The project is scheduled for completion by fall 2015.
The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.
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