The Union Schoolhouse Road Bridge, spanning the North Branch of the Raritan River, was one of the last of the military-style prefabricated steel bridges built by New Jersey’s Morris County in the 1970s and 1980s. Several decades later it was structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.
Solution
After performing a scoping study, Mott MacDonald designed and supported the construction of a new bridge. Conservation easements along the river and the nearby Schiff Nature Preserve and historic Fairchild House required a careful balance between meeting current design standards and minimizing environmental impact.
Outcome
The new bridge employs a prefabricated steel truss, mimicking the design of historic bridges at this location. Features include decorative cast iron finials, an ornamental railing, and stone veneer with bluestone caps.
Mendham Township and Morris County now have a durable, functional, and attractive vehicular bridge that is in keeping with the sensitive natural environment and historical significance of the area.