Traffic & Transit
Essex County Reopens Dougal Place Bridge In West Caldwell
The project is part of the County Executive's initiative to modernize roadway infrastructure and enhance pedestrian and motorist safety.
Press release from Essex County:
July 1, 2022
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Tuesday, June 28th that the replacement of the Dougal Place Bridge over the Kane Brook in West Caldwell is complete. The project is part of the County Executive’s ongoing initiative to modernize roadway infrastructure and enhance safety for pedestrians and motorists.
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“This was a difficult project because there was limited access into the area and we had to ensure businesses were able to continue to operate while construction was ongoing. We are pleased that construction was expedited and completed in just three months,” DiVincenzo said. “We are always looking at ways to upgrade our infrastructure so that it meets current demands. The Dougal Place Bridge was an example of a bridge that is essential to keeping the local economy vibrant and needed to be replaced because it was in poor condition,” he added.
“The former structure was 80 years old and now that we have a new bridge that meets all current safety standards. I hope this will last for the next 100 years,” said Commissioner Patricia Sebold. “I am happy to support this project that improves the safety for motorists and allows the many people who work here to get to and from work safely,” she added.
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“This new bridge is so important for safety reasons. I commend the County Executive and the team for identifying this need and making sure it got done on time and under budget,” said Commissioner Leonard Luciano.
“Thank you to the County Executive for your hard work and being instrumental in the completion of this bridge project for our business district. We appreciate all that you do for the County and the Township of West Caldwell,” said West Caldwell Council President Stephen P. Wolsky.
Built in 1972, the Dougal Place Bridge is a single-span concrete structure with two lanes of traffic, one lane traveling in either direction. A recent inspection of the bridge determined it was structurally deficient and in need of being replaced. The new structure that was installed is an in-kind replacement. The construction of the new bridge was phased in because Dougal Place is the only access to York Avenue and Patton Drive.
Boswell Engineering from South Hackensack was awarded a $235,120 professional services contract to design the new bridge. (This contract also included design services for other projects.) Grade Construction from Paterson was awarded a publicly-bid contract for $969,326 to perform the construction work. Funding for the project was provided through a grant from the NJ Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Fund. Work started in April and took just three months to complete.
This press release was produced by Essex County. The views expressed here are the author's own.
