Nevius Street Bridge beginning a new life

As seen in

Thursday, October 05, 2006

RARITAN -- Somerset County Deputy Director Robert Zaborowski hosted a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 26 for the official reopening of the historic Nevius Street Bridge, connecting Raritan and Hillsborough, as a pedestrian bridge. He was joined by Freeholder Denise Coyle, public works liaison, and Freeholder Rick Fontana.

Also in attendance were Raritan Mayor Anthony Hudak, Raritan Council President Denise Carra, Raritan Councilman John Lamaestra, Raritan Councilman James Foohey, Hillsborough Deputy Mayor Anthony Ferrera and Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano. "We are pleased to be here on this special day as this noble bridge assumes its new official role as a pedestrian bridge between Raritan and Hillsborough," said Zaborowski. "The historic Nevius Street Bridge was closed in 2004 to vehicular traffic for safety reasons when it no longer could handle the posted 3-ton load limit mandated by federal law due to structural deterioration," said Coyle. "Repairs were begun to refurbish the bridge as a pedestrian bridge and cost $1.5 million. "Now that the historic Nevius Street Bridge is completed, the public will have many years to enjoy its charm and to enjoy the sounds of rushing water, birds, and nature as they walk across the bridge."

Fontana said: "The Nevius Street Bridge was built in 1886, is a 300-hundred-foot-long Pratt through-truss bridge and is the oldest documented metal truss bridge in the county. The bridge provided a great deal of pleasure to the residents of Hillsborough and Raritan in the form of fishing and strolling in the past. "It is fitting that the bridge again will be a source of enjoyment and relaxation." Construction of the Nevius Street Bridge marked the first time that the Board of Chosen Freeholders hired a professional civil engineer to supervise construction of a bridge.

The Nevius Street Bridge has been listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. In May, the Engineering Division was awarded a historic preservation commendation award for the preservation and restoration of the Nevius Street Bridge by the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

The rehabilitation design of the existing historic Nevius Street Bridge was done by Keller and Kirkpatrick of Parsippany. Ferreira Construction Company of Branchburg performed the restoration of the bridge and Kupper Associates of Piscataway performed the construction inspection services for the bridge.