11 Jul ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF LYONS AVENUE BRIDGE IN IRVINGTON
Published on July 11, 2017
Irvington, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., who was joined by Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss, announced that a project to reconstruct the Lyons Avenue Bridge in Irvington has been completed and the bridge has been reopened to pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic on Tuesday, July 11th. Lyons Avenue is a busy thoroughfare that provides critical access through the township, and its replacement is an example of how Essex County is modernizing infrastructure to meet today’s needs. The bridge replacement project took just three months to complete.
“Motorists rely on our roads to get to and from work and school, and move about their daily routines. Modernizing our infrastructure enhances safety and ensures our roads and bridges can handle the current level of traffic,” DiVincenzo said. “Lyons Avenue is a major thoroughfare that provides access to the Garden State Parkway, so upgrading this bridge will have a profound effect in Irvington. We worked hard to minimize disruption and finished the project in just three months,” he added.
Local elected officials were delighted with the modernized infrastructure and the fact that the project was completed in just three months.
“I want to thank the County Executive for another job well done,” Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss said. “Joe DiVincenzo has shown again and again his commitment to the people of Irvington and Essex County. We appreciate the resources and support we are getting from Essex,” he added.
“It was very inconvenient while the road was closed, but having the temporary pedestrian bridge was a great benefit for pedestrians and local businesses,” Freeholder Wayne Richardson said. “I like the fact that the County gets things done, and now we have a new bridge that we can all be proud of,” he added.
“It seems like every time I see the County Executive I’m saying thank you for something he’s done for Irvington. We have a great relationship with Essex County and we’re very appreciative,” Irvington Councilwoman Sandra Jones said. “Thank you for securing our infrastructure. There is a school and the Chris Gatling Center nearby, and this state-of-the-art structure makes it safe for people to get around,” Irvington Councilwoman Dr. October Hudley said. “I am happy with this relationship that Irvington has with Essex County. Our roads are being paved, our parks are modernized – we are so grateful,” Councilman Vern Cox said.
The Lyons Avenue Bridge crosses over the Elizabeth River and the original structure was built in 1940. The bridge was in poor condition and its obsolete design was not sufficient for the current traffic on Lyons Avenue. During the renovation, the 30-foot long bridge deck was removed and replaced with a single span, reinforced concrete slab superstructure that has the same dimensions as the old bridge. Work started in March and was completed in three months.
Boswell Engineering from South Hackensack received a $117,500 contract to design the new bridge and provide inspection services. Colonnelli Brothers from Hackensack was awarded a publicly bid contract for $389,822 to perform the construction work. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to answer questions so that delays were avoided. The project was funded with a bridge reconstruction grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Other capital improvement projects recently completed by Essex County in Irvington include a Federally-funded $6.4 million project to modernize 14 intersections along Chancellor Avenue and Lyons Avenue in Irvington in 2016, a $189,000 project to modernize the Lyons Avenue and Union Avenue intersection in 2011, a $1.5 million project to replace the Springfield Avenue Culvert and the Chancellor Avenue Culvert over the Lightning Brook in 2008, an $867,200 project to modernize four intersections along Springfield Avenue in 2007, the $3 million repaving and reconstruction of the entire length of Stuyvesant Avenue in 2004 and the $718,614 reconstruction of the Madison Avenue Bridge in 2005. The Essex County Department of Public Works conducted “short term improvements” to the traffic signal equipment at the intersections of Springfield Avenue and Clinton Avenue and Springfield Avenue and Civic Square in September 2005. In addition, the County is modernizing the playground in Essex County Irvington Park and has upgraded the D. Bilal Beasley Community Center, tennis courts, basketball courts and walking paths in the park.