TRENTON — Senate President Steve Sweeney, Deputy Speaker John J. Burzichelli and Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro today announced the allocation of more than $2.5 million in state grants for two key transportation projects, the reconstruction of Gloucester County Bridge 5B5 on Oldman’s Creek Road in Woolwich Township, and the replacement of the Centerton Bridge in Pittsgrove.
The “Local Bridge, Future Needs” grants will provide $1.3 million to rebuild the county bridge in Woolwich and $1.2 million to replace the Centerton Bridge on Centerton Road in Pittsgrove, Salem County. The funding to improve county bridges and keep them in a state of good repair comes from the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund.
“Maintaining a first-rate transportation infrastructure is a key priority for local communities as well as for the State of New Jersey,” said Sweeney. “That is why we fought to have the Transportation Trust Fund renewed – so that the state has the resources to support projects like these. These state grants will be used for two key projects that are important for the residents of the area and for the businesses in the communities.”
“It is crucial that we maintain and upkeep our roads and bridges which age and deteriorate over time,” said Assemblyman Burzichelli. “It is important for the quality of life for local residents, for businesses and for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.”
“These grants are investments in our communities that will serve the needs of the entire region into the future,” said Assemblyman Taliaferro. “Maintaining safe and secure bridges is especially important. They literally support the flow of traffic and the use by people.”
Under the Local Bridges, Future Needs program, every county receives funding. The grants are intended to help counties focus on the bridges under their jurisdiction with the greatest structural deficiencies. The grants are administered by the NJDOT Divisions of Local Aid and Economic Development and evaluated by the Bureau of Structural Engineering.
Each year, Local Aid grants represent a significant portion of Local System Support, which also includes local lead projects, regional planning and project development, and transportation enhancement projects.
