Politics & Government

County Breaks Ground on Highway-Crossing Pedestrian Bridge

Pedestrian walkway to be part of larger plan for greenway trails.

A new bridge is being built from Somerville to Bridgewater to keep pedestrians from having to walk along Route 202/206.

A July 28 groundbreaking was the start of a four-month county project to erect a pedestrian bridge over Rte. 202/206. Once completed, the bridge will begin on Mountain Boulevard in Somerville, and end near the Somerville Circle Shopping Center in Bridgewater.

"We'll be able to provide safe pedestrian access to recreational facilities, greenways along Peters Brook and various shopping centers," said Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director Jack Ciattarelli. "This is important in light of the fact that this area is probably the most urbanized one, and it can be treacherous for pedestrians and bicyclists."

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The project, Ciattarelli said, was first discussed by the county's Regional Center Partnership, which represents the interests of Bridgewater, Somerville and Raritan. He said the three towns give money to the partnership to evaluate projects that benefit the community.

The entire purpose of the project, Ciattarelli said, is to provide a safer environment for walkers and bicyclists.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It is making the community more livable," he said. "We are providing better walkways."

The entire project, Ciattarelli said, will cost $3.6 million, none of which will be paid by Bridgewater Township or the county. About $2 million in federal funds has been given toward the project through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Transportation Enhancement Grant, and the remaining balance was given by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

And initially, Ciattarelli said, the Regional Center Partnership donated $100,000 in seed money to take the project past the early conceptual stage.

"That made the project shovel-ready, and eligible for recovery money from the federal government," he said.

The full 10-foot wide bridge will be supported on concrete abutments that span 129 feet, and construction is scheduled to begin on the north side of Peters Brook, near Clarks Woods. From there, an extended pathway is being designed on the Bridgewater side to provide access to the 35-acre Clarks Woods Park that features different playing fields and natural woodlands, and is owned by Somerville.

Once the project begins, Ciattarelli said, the county will be responsible for overseeing the construction, and then the maintenance of the bridge once the work is done.

A contract to build the bridge was awarded to Flanagan Construction Group in Hillsborough.

Mayor Patricia Flannery said she believes the addition of the walkway will improve the quality of life in town, and promote exercise by providing a safer way to walk around.

"I like passive recreation," she said. "It encourages people to get up in the morning."

For Wingate Drive resident David Doheny, who attended the ground breaking, it is a quality of life issue for him as well, as he enjoys riding his bicycle around town.

"Everything is so overbuilt that we forget the quality of life issue," he said. "If we have walking pathways, it increases the likelihood that people will move here, and that will increase the spending of money here."

Doheny said he often likes to ride his bicycle into Somerville for a short time, with the intention of getting home quickly and avoiding having to ride on more populated highways. But, with the walkway, he will have a safer place to go and more opportunity to travel at any time of the day.

"Maybe now, if I have a safer way in and out, I can ride to Somerville for dinner," he said.

But the project does not stop with the one pedestrian walkway.

Ciattarelli said this part of the project is just another step in a four-year endeavor called the Peters Brook Greenway Extension Project, which is expected to link communities, parks, recreational facilities, schools, neighborhoods, commercial districts and employment centers. A future phase of the project, he said, will create a pathway extending north of Rte. 22 to the Bridgewater-Raritan High School on Garretson Road.

The project is also supposed to be part of the Raritan River Greenway, which is under development by the Somerset County Park Commission to be part of a regional greenway system.

At this point, the greenway begins at East High Street in Somerville, moves across Grove Street along William Street, then heads across North Bridge Street between Green and West Cliff streets. While still in Somerville, it then heads across Davenport Street to Mercer Street, and on to Mountain Avenue, where it currently ends, and where the new walkway will pick up to head into Bridgewater.

"This will be a connection of all the greenways in the area," Ciattarelli said. "It will be providing pedestrians and bicyclists with a trail system. What we're doing is for the citizenry."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here