About The Project
Ocean County in coordination with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) are currently conducting Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) to replace the existing bridge with a three-span structure.
The LPE Phase involves performing engineering tasks and technical environmental studies in order to obtain formal community consensus (through a public information center) of the study. The approval of the environmental document (i.e., NEPA document) from FHWA also takes place in this phase. Based on the Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA), a number of activities are simultaneously set in motion: community involvement (meetings with affected property or business owners), agency consultation, environmental documentation, design level mapping and design services. To obtain the formal community consensus, a public information session will be conducted, which may lead to some minor adjustments to the PPA. Ultimately, the effected municipalities will be asked to provide a Resolution of Support endorsing the project.
- Project Kick-off (January 2018)
- Data Collection (Early 2018): Review existing documentation, mapping and surveying, cultural resource report, etc.
- Purpose and Needs Statement Developed (Early 2018)
- Alternative Analysis (Mid 2018): Develop engineering alternatives and conduct impact assessment of alternatives
- Selection of Preliminary Preferred Alternative (Late 2018)
- Documentation (Late 2018/Early 2019): Prepare cost estimates, NEPA classification and documentation, preliminary engineering next steps, etc.
- Draft Local Concept Development Report (Late 2018)
- Final Local Concept Development Report (Late 2018)
Location: Toms River Township
About the Bridge:
The Chadwick Beach Island Bridge carries Strickland Boulevard over the Inward Thorofare of Barnegat Bay, and is located in the densely populated shore community of the Chadwick Beach section of Toms River Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. The structure connects Chadwick Beach Island with the main barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. The bridge provides the only vehicular access to the Chadwick Island Marina and 360 homes located on the island.
The existing structure is an all-timber bridge with a timber substructure (load bearing piles and timber bulkhead) that was originally constructed in the 1950s. Its existing timber superstructure (timber deck boards, pile caps, and railings) were replaced in 1985. Most of the timber bulkhead which retains the roadway fill in front of the bridge abutments is deteriorating and exhibits severe section loss and in places is visibly compromised. Due to its age, many of the load bearing piles and their cross bracing have severe timber rot and section loss. The structure has been rated in Poor Condition due to the condition of the substructure. Ongoing maintenance is required to retard further deterioration. The curb-to-curb width of 24 feet and a 3.5-foot sidewalk which is present on the north side do not meet current design standards.
Public awareness is critical since the bridge provides the only access to the Chadwick Beach Island residences.
Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) is the second phase of work for the Local Capital Project Delivery Program. The LPE Phase involves performing engineering tasks and technical environmental studies in order to obtain formal community consensus. The approval of the environmental document (NEPA document) from FHWA also takes place in this phase. The following activities will be completed during LPE: community involvement, agency consultation, environmental documentation, preparation of design level mapping, preliminary design services, and refinement of the PPA. A public information session will be conducted to obtain the formal community consensus. At the close of LPE, Toms River officials will be asked to provide a Resolution of Support endorsing the project.
The tasks conducted during this phase will consist of, among other things:
- development of design level base plans
- development of geometric design to clarify environmental impacts and right-of-way impacts
- utility discovery and verification
- geotechnical studies (soil borings and analysis) for foundation design
- preliminary drainage design
- driveway access impact evaluation, and
- development of righto-of way and construction cost estimates.
Local officials, community stakeholders, agency representatives, and the public will have an opportunity to provide comments for consideration and ask questions throughout the LCPD Process. The primary tasks of stakeholders include the following:
- Consultation with NJDEP/US Army Corps of Engineers/US Coast Guard
- Provide input to inform project team of concerns or updates on local conditions
- Learn more about Community Outreach
Local Capital Project Delivery Program (LCPD)
The LCD Study is the first phase for federally funded transportation improvement projects. The 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 Process
| 1. Local Concept Development (Completed June 2020) |
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| 2. Local Preliminary Engineering |
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| 3. Final Design/ROW Acquisition |
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| 4. Construction |
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