Replacement and reconstruction of the county’s historic Mill Street Bridge will entail an anticipated street closure of 14 to 16 months, with detours in place, according to a February presentation by Bridgewater-based consultants Greenman-Pederson Inc.
Planners weighed a staged construction approach, but determined it would add four months to the reconstruction and disruption of the area. The county project is in cooperation with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).
Located in the Vincentown section of Southampton, the single-span steel stringer bridge has a reinforced concrete deck over the Rancocas Creek. The existing substructure pre-dates 1918 and was widened. The existing foundation is unknown, according to the presentation.
Replacement is critical due to erosion around the bridge’s supports, officials said. An estimated 7,000 vehicles cross it daily.
Coordination with the state Historic Preservation Office is required since the span is adjacent to the Vincentown and Tabernace Telephone Company building and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Potential environmental impacts are abundant, according to the presentation. A state Freshwater Wetlands permit is required for wetlands on site. There is a potential threat to the endangered Northern Long Eared bat, though none has been identified on the site. There are surrounding Blue Acres properties. Mitigation and measures of cultural resources need to be taken for architectural and archeological preservation, according to the presentation.
An initial meeting on the bridge replacement’s concept development was held in 2022, with Michael Baker International as the consultant. Township committee members were in support of replacing the bridge and attendees liked the open- bridge railing appearance. But stakeholders had concerns over large vehicles trying to use Red Lion/Race Street/Main Street for a detour.
Two existing retaining walls will be impacted and replaced in kind. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection would prefer a sloped creek bank, according to the presentation.
The scope of work includes:
- Replacing the Mill Street Bridge structure
- Maintaining hydraulic opening
- Limiting impact to nearby properties
- Providing a safe temporary vehicle and pedestrian detour route
- Maintaining temporary and permanent access to homes and businesses
- Updating non-compliant sidewalk and curb reveals within project limits
All utilities will be relocated and maintained during construction. Preliminary engineering of the site is expected to be completed late this year, and a complete final design is expected early 2028. Work is expected between 2028 and 2029.
