Morris Co. Resumes Berkshire Valley Road Replacement Project

JEFFERSON, NJ — Construction on the replacement of the Berkshire Valley Road, in Jefferson, near Longwood, will resume after stalling last year.

The project was halted shortly after work started on October 2020, due to delays in the construction of a culvert —the tunnel that carries over water — and the relocation of an existing gas main at the site.

The culvert has now been fabricated and the utility company is ready to relocate its gas main.

The project, which totals $835,000, includes replacing the existing span and both roadway approaches of the bridge. The current structure was built in 1970 and about 9,3000 vehicles pass over it on a daily basis.

The 60-inch reinforced concrete culvert pipe that carries a tributary leading to Longwood Lake currently has defects that include cracking and small breaks in the approaching roadway, as well as settlements and some collision damage to the existing guide rails.

The new bridge will have a precast rigid frame culvert with a precast wing, and it will be supported by a precast foundation.