Salem Street Bridge Over Route 10, Randolph Township, Morris County, NJ 

New Bridge in Less Time 

Low clearance on the Salem Street Bridge over Route 10, in Morris County, NJ, was a safety concern. Inspection of this 2-span, curved structure, built in 1953, revealed vehicular impacts to steel stringers and a structurally deficient deck. 

In response, the New Jersey Department of Transportation expanded initial plans to include replacement of the bridge’s deck, superstructure, and pier cap, as well as rehabilitation of the substructure. Urban provided final design services.  

Design specified raising the profile and using a shallower superstructure. This improved the bridge’s clearance by nearly nine inches. Salvaging the original substructure reduced costs and expedited the project - design was completed in less than one year.

Blended Innovative Approach

Innovative use of a continuity diaphragm at the pier eliminates deck joints and extends the bridge’s anticipated service life. To improve safety, the new, high-performance concrete deck slab was reconfigured to provide shoulders, overpass ramps were widened, and modern concrete parapets added. 

Other work included repairs to abutment and wing walls, upgrades to traffic control and signalized intersection, and modification of sidewalks and curbs to meet ADA requirements.

Highlights

• Structural evaluation, inspection, and final design
• Vertical under-clearance improvements
• Innovative design technique: continuity diaphragms
• Strengthen and repair  substructure
• ADA upgrades at two intersections along Route 10
• Funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)