About The Project

Somerset County in coordination with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) are advancing the design for the replacement of the Picket Place Bridge. The project goals are to address the structural deficiencies of the bridge and increase safety for the traveling public.

The Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) Phase is the second step of the project development process. It involves performing engineering tasks and technical environmental studies with the goal of refining the Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA), securing the environmental document [i.e. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document] and graduating the project to Final Design (FD). Based on the PPA, a number of activities are simultaneously set in motion in this phase: community involvement (meetings with affected property or business owners), agency consultation, environmental documentation, design level mapping and design services. To obtain the community consensus, a public information meeting will be conducted, which may lead to minor adjustments to the PPA.

Location: Branchburg and Hillsborough Townships

About the Bridge:

The existing Picket Place Bridge over the South Branch of Raritan River sits in a primarily agricultural setting. The bridge is located near the Neshanic Valley Golf Course and the Sourland Mountain Preserve. It connects Hillsborough and Branchburg Townships and provides connections to major roadways in the area including Route 202, Pleasant Run Road (C.R. 667) and Amwell Road (C.R. 514).

Built in 1979, the structure is 355 feet long and approximately 35 feet wide. It is a four-span simply supported bridge, composed of pre-stressed concrete I-beams supported on cast-in-place concrete abutments and piers. The structure is classified as “Structurally Deficient” due to the poor condition of the substructure and is categorized as as “Functionally Obsolete” due to its substandard deck geometry. As such the bridge does not meet today’s design standards.

Public awareness of this project is critical since the PPA involves lane closures and detours which may delay the traveling public.

The tasks conducted during this phase consist of, among others: 

Advancement of design base plans; 
Advancement of geometric design to refine environmental impacts and right-of-way needs; 
Technical Environmental Studies (including Section 106 and 4(f) Evaluation); 
NEPA Document (Categorical Exclusion); 
Structural studies documenting the structural selection process and the recommended structure and aesthetic features; 
Geotechnical studies (soil borings and analysis) for foundation design; 
Hydraulic and Hydrology analysis; 
Preliminary drainage design;
Utility facilities confirmation; 
Access impact evaluation; and 
Development of right-of-way and construction cost estimates.

Federally funded projects require an environmental screening that follows the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The NEPA process enables the project sponsor to establish existing environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the project area and weigh the potential impacts that may be caused by the Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA). When refining the PPA, federal and state regulations require careful assessment and mitigation or avoidance of the potential negative environmental impacts. Environmental resources analyzed include 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 public will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions for consideration throughout the Local Preliminary Engineering phase of the project. The primary tasks of stakeholders include the following:

Assist in the identification of potential concerns or issues with the Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA)
Provide feedback to ensure the PPA aligns with community needs and values
Engage with the project team at community events and meetings

Learn more about Community Outreach

Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) is the second phase for federally funded transportation improvement projects. The Local Capital Project Delivery (LCPD) Program provides funding to NJTPA sub regions—the 15 city and county members of the NJTPA—to prepare proposed transportation projects for eventual construction with federal funding.

This preparation involves completing the multi-step Capital Project Delivery Process developed by NJDOT. This process is designed to streamline project development and provide a common and consistent framework for federally funded projects at the local, regional and state level.

Local Capital Project Delivery (LCPD) Program

Local Capital Project Delivery Process

Local Concept Development	LOCAL PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING	Final Design/ROW Acquisition	Construction
Purpose & Need Statement	Approved Design Exception Report	Construction Contract Documents & PS&E Package	Completed Construction
Data Collection & Environmental Screening Report	Cost Estimates (Final Design, ROW & Construction)	Environmental Reevaluations	As-Built
Selection of Preliminary Preferred Alternative	Approved Environmental Document	Environmental Permits	Update & Finalize Design Communications Report
Concept Development Report	Approved Project Plan	Acquisition on ROW	Close-out Documentation
NEPA Classification	Preliminary Engineering Report	Update Design Communications Report	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement
Create Design Communications Report	Update Design Communications Report	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement
Initial Public Outreach & Involvement	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement

1. Local Concept Development	2. Local Preliminary Engineering	3. Final Design/ROW Acquisition	4. Construction
Purpose & Need Statement	Approved Design Exception Report	Construction Contract Documents & PS&E Package	Completed Construction
Data Collection & Environmental Screening Report	Cost Estimates (Final Design, ROW & Construction)	Environmental Reevaluations	As-Built
Selection of Preliminary Preferred Alternative	Approved Environmental Document	Environmental Permits	Update & Finalize Design Communications Report
Concept Development Report	Approved Project Plan	Acquisition of ROW	Close-out Documentation
NEPA Classification	Preliminary Engineering Report	Update Design Communications Report	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement
Create Design Communications Report	Update Design Communications Report	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement
Initial Public Outreach & Involvement	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement	Continued Public Outreach & Involvement

Timeline

Local Concept Development
Completed Summer 2020
Local Preliminary Engineering
Current Phase: Fall 2024 to Summer 2026
Final Design
Anticipated Start 2028
Construction
Anticipated Start Design Dependent