Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/21/07
BY TERRY GAUTHIER MUESSIG
KEYPORT BUREAU
A total of more than 400 people attended two special meetings -- in Sea Bright and
Highlands -- held by the state Department of Transportation Thursday regarding the
reconstruction of the Route 36 bridge.
The meetings were called by state officials to to discuss plans to replace the 75 year-old, 35-foot-high drawbridge with a 65-foot-high fixed bridge.
Objectors to the state's plan say they want the current bridge to be repaired or
duplicated.
State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said the Route 36 bridge has outlived its life expectancy, which is 50 years. The Highlands-Sea Bridge was rated one of the worse movable bridges in the state, he said.
The existing bridge is 61.6-foot wide. The four lanes for traffic are 11-foot wide and the remaining 17.6-feet are the sidewalks. The overall height of the bridge with decking and road is 47-feet high, said Assistant Commissioner Rick Hammer.
The proposed bridge is 92.3-feet wide with roadways being 12-feet wide. The overall height with the decking and road is 73-feet high.
The project would take about three years to complete, Kolluri said. The roadway will remain open during the duration.
Kolluri said the cost of repairs or designing another bridge would be too costly. The cost to repair the existing bridge would be between $89 and $96 million. The estimated life expectancy would be 20 years.
Middletown resident, Judith Stanley Coleman received a standing ovation for her comments.
"Engineers don't care about the people that live here," said Coleman, president and a founder of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
She said she believes the bridge would make it easier for developers to redevelop Sandy Hook.
"NJDOT I think you are wrong," Coleman said.
About a year ago, a handful of residents started the Citizens for Rational Coastal
Development. The group started with about 20 active members, and is now has more than 100 residents in support of the group.
Since that time, the group has hired a Princeton law firm to represent the groups opposing the DOTs plans. Stuart Lieberman and Joshua Levy of Lieberman & Blecher specializes in environmental and land use matters. In addition, the two borough's retained Janine G. Bauer, a transportation and environmental lawyer with offices in Philadelphia, South Orange and New York City.
Shirley Olman of Portland Road, Highlands, the spokesperson for the group said the group will continue its fight to retain the aesthetics of the area.
The bridge sits directly below the historic TwinLights.
Lieberman was at both meetings.
"The number of people that showed up to these meetings speaks volumes," he said. "If nothing else happens, Trenton saw this," he said, referring to the public outcry.
Has anyone seen Sean Kean or Frank Pallone?
Come on guys, its time to step up here. Your constituents don't want a big ugly bridge. Tell your union contributors to settle for the $90 million dollar project.
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1 comment:
Terry Muessig is a good reporter. It's a good report. Can't be enough reporters out there like that.
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