Sussex County - News and Information

Project Update Notices

Construction Photos
May 17, 2013. Today we poured concrete in the first part of the bridge that will be above grade and visible to public view upon completion. A “crash wall” adjacent to the NYS&W RR tracks was poured. Our next concrete pour will be the Pier 4 columns. Pile driving is nearing completion and should be finished next week, weather permitting. Pieces of the bridge superstructure have begun to arrive.
May 3, 2013. Construction on the Bridge E-07 project was slowed during the past three weeks as a result of finding unexpected conditions in the rock underlying portions of the site. We found these conditions when driving test piles. The conditions were reviewed and the necessary changes made to the pile lengths. Pile construction is back on track. The first concrete foundation was poured today using just under140 cubic yards of concrete. The concrete was supplied by the Sussex plant of County Concrete Corp.
April 12, 2013. The onset of spring has seen work on the bridge begin to accelerate. Sheeting operations are winding down. Foundation excavation is well underway. Pile driving operations have begun. A concrete foundation crew will be mobilized next week. The two western spans of the bridge, many of the girders over 100’ long, were fully erected in the fabrication shop and all interconnecting pieces match drilled for streamlined construction when erected in the field. They are now in storage awaiting painting. The remaining three spans and a large supporting girder are now on the shop floor being fabricated.
April 1, 2013. Progress continues on sheeting installation. Pile driving should commence this week. Concrete foundation construction can be expected to begin during the next two week period. The girders and miscellaneous parts for the first two spans of the bridge superstructure are fabricated. The first two spans of the steel bridge superstructure are now being test assembled and match fit at the fabrication plant prior to fabrication of the balance of the superstructure steel.
March 15, 2013. Overhead utility relocation is essentially complete and test pile installation can proceed. Structural steel fabrication is right on schedule and our steel now occupies most of the massive fabrication facility that just finished the mast for One World Trade Center.
March 1, 2013. Sheeting installation for foundation construction began during the past week. Test piles will be driven and analyzed during the next two weeks. Fabrication of the steel plate girders and box beam, many over 100’ long, is underway. With the end of winter we can expect to see concrete structures rising from the ground in anticipation of steel erection.
February 15, 2013. With the exception of a pier wall, all demolition has been completed and the project site is just about empty.
February 1, 2013. Removal of the last steel superstructure section (over the Wallkill River) was completed today.
January 18, 2013. Complete bridge superstructure demolition next week. Foundation construction to begin in mid-winter.
January 4, 2013. Bridge superstructure demolition is 50% complete. Foundation construction to begin in mid-winter.
December 21, 2012. Demolition of the superstructure continues.
December 7, 2012. Demolition of the superstructure has begun.
November 26, 2012. Please note that bridge and road closure and detour of Bridge E-07 CR 631 in Franklin, the Franklin Viaduct, was implemented on Monday, November 26 at 1:30 p.m. This notice includes a detour map.
November 21, 2012. Please note that bridge and road closure of Bridge E-07 CR 631 in Franklin, the Franklin Viaduct, will take place on Monday, November 26 after the morning rush hour. This notice includes a detour map.
November 16, 2012. Road closure is expected on or about November 26, 2012. This notice includes a detour map.
November 2, 2012. Road closure is expected on or about November 12, 2012. This notice includes a detour map.
October 9, 2012. Road closure is expected on or about November 1, 2012. This notice includes a detour map.
August 3, 2012. Initial project update.

August 27, 2012

Replacement of Sussex County Bridge E-07 (Franklin Viaduct) over the Wallkill River and New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad

Dear Neighbors,

Construction for replacement of the Franklin Viaduct on County Route 631 (North Church Road) in Franklin Borough is expected to begin on or about October 1, 2012.

This $8.7 million project will replace the existing, structurally deficient bridge and ramp with a new five-span steel girder superstructure with a reinforced concrete deck founded on steel H-pile and spread footing foundations and reinforced concrete abutments and piers. The bridge will be widened to accommodate a 30-foot roadway and a six-foot sidewalk.

The first stage of construction will involve contractor mobilization and utility relocation work and is expected to last for approximately two to four weeks. During this period of time County Route 631 will remain open to two lanes of traffic.

Once this phase of work is completed County Route 631 (North Church Road) will be closed from Fowler Street to Newton Street and vehicular traffic rerouted around the closure along a posted detour from Route 23 in Franklin Borough to Route 94 in Hardyston Township. The additional detour travel distance is approximately 2-3 miles with an estimated additional travel time of six minutes. This phase of work is expected to last 14 months and will include demolition of the existing bridge and ramp structure built in 1927 and construction of the new Bridge E-07. Re-opening of the roadway is scheduled to occur no later than December 31, 2013. Pedestrian accommodations will be coordinated by the project Resident Engineer for the duration of the closure.

The final phase of the project consists of landscaping, site clean-up and completion of punch list items. This work will be performed under two lane traffic conditions and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2014.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

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