Locke Avenue Bridge - Reason For Replacement

Reason For Replacement

Overall condition of the bridge was poor due to incising deterioration of the superstructure and substructure units. Also, the bridge loading capacity was only 5 tons. It was functionally outdated because the substandard deck geometry provided a one-lane roadway width for a two lane traffic pattern. The steel roadway stringers, floor beams and trusses were corroded. It also had severe deterioration of the truss connection plates, and loss of bearing beneath the trusses and the bearing blocks at the pivot pier. Also, the northern and southern approach roadways reduced in width to a single lane upon approaching the bridge. Both northern and southern roadway approaches to the bridge sat on a substandard sag profile which created sight distance for drivers.

A swing bridge was replaced with a girder bridge in 2002. An environmental permit was issued to Hatch Mott MacDonald by New Jersey Department of Transportation to replace the swing bridge.