About The Project

Morris County, in coordination with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), is conducting Preliminary Engineering for a new bridge to replace the existing structure over Black Brook. The new structure will increase safety for the traveling public by providing two travel lanes in each direction, outside shoulders on Columbia Turnpike eastbound and westbound, and a westbound sidewalk on the bridge.

Location: Florham Park Borough

About the Bridge:

The existing Columbia Turnpike Bridge over the Black Brook is a single span multi-stringer bridge built in 1929 and widened in 1960. The bridge carries four lanes, two in each direction, with no shoulders and two sidewalks. Columbia Turnpike (County Route 510) is a major east-west roadway in the Florham Park Borough, providing regional connections to Route 24, I-287, and the Garden State Parkway. The roadway and shoulder width do not meet current travel needs and the bridge structure is in poor condition.

An LCD Study was completed for the Columbia Turnpike Bridge over Black Brook in 2019. During this phase, a Purpose and Need Statement was developed that confirmed the need to provide an upgraded structure that meets current standards and provides a safe means of transportation across the Black Brook for all users. Feasible bridge rehabilitation and replacement alternatives were developed and analyzed, and a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) was recommended to replace the bridge with a new structure shifted slightly south of the existing bridge. The new structure will be wider than the existing bridge and provide two travel lanes in each direction, outside shoulders, and a sidewalk on the westbound side. Public support was received for the PPA, and Resolutions of Support were passed by Florham Park Borough and Morris County Commissioners endorsing the advancement of the proposed improvements to the Preliminary Engineering phase.

The project is currently in the Local Preliminary Engineering phase, which was initiated in March 2022. During LPE, major tasks will include conducting engineering and environmental studies to the extent required to obtain an approved National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document. Preliminary design of the roadway geometry and new bridge will be performed so that Right-of-Way and environmental impacts for the project can be documented, and the required environmental permits can be identified. Meetings with local officials and the general public will be held during the LPE phase to ensure that input from residents, stakeholders, local officials, and business owners is incorporated into the proposed design.

Federally-funded projects require preparation of an Environmental Document that follows the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A Categorical Exclusion Document (CED) will be prepared for this project based on the scope of the proposed improvements. Impacts to environmental resources will be analyzed including air, noise, hazardous or contaminated sites, parks, wetlands, water resources, social and economic impacts, and cultural resources such as historic structures and facilities.

Local officials, community stakeholders, agency representatives, and the general public will have an opportunity to provide comments and questions for consideration throughout the project. Please see Community Outreach page for more details.

Local Capital Project Delivery Program (LCPD)

Local Capital Project Delivery Process

1. LOCAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT2. LOCAL PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING3. FINAL DESIGN/ROW ACQUISITION4. CONSTRUCTION
Purpose & Need StatementApproved Design Exception ReportConstruction Contract Documents & PS&E PackageCompleted Construction
Data Collection & Environmental Screening ReportCost Estimates (Final Design, ROW & Construction)Environmental ReevaluationsAs-Built
Selection of Preliminary Preferred AlternativeApproved Environmental DocumentEnvironmental PermitsUpdate & Finalize Design Communications Report
Concept Development ReportApproved Project PlanAcquisition on ROWClose-out Documentation
NEPA ClassificationPreliminary Engineering ReportUpdate Design Communications Report
Create Design Communications ReportUpdate Design Communications Report
Initial Public Outreach & InvolvementContinued Public Outreach & InvolvementContinued Public Outreach & InvolvementContinued Public Outreach & Involvement

Project Team

Morris County
New Jersey

North Jersey Transportation
Planning Authority

New Jersey Department
of Transportation

The Project Team is composed of members representing Morris County, NJTPA, NJDOT, McCormick Taylor (the prime consultant design engineering firm) and other supporting consulting firms for engineering, environmental, cultural and community involvement support. See directory of project team staff and contact information below:

Meghan Paccione (Primary Contact)
Morris County Principal Engineer
mpaccione@co.morris.nj.us

Roslyn Khurdan
Morris County Assistant County Engineer
rkhurdan@co.morris.nj.us

Richard Brundage, P.E.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
rbrundage@njtpa.org

Christopher Vitz
Morris County Director of Public Works & County Engineer
cvitz@co.morris.nj.us

Richard Loveless
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Richard.loveless@dot.nj.gov

Nusrat Jahan
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Nusrat.jahan@dot.nj.gov

Pamela Garrett
New Jersey Department of Transportation
pamela.garrett@dot.nj.gov

Timeline

  • Initiate Local Preliminary Engineering
    Spring 2022
  • Preliminary roadway design complete
    Spring 2023
  • Preliminary structural design complete
    Spring 2023
  • Community Outreach
    Spring 2023
  • Environmental Document approved
    Summer 2023
  • Local Preliminary Engineering Complete
    Fall 2023
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