Two heavily-traveled bridges on Route 33 and Route 35—both nearly a century old—and improvement projects for Freehold Borough and Middletown Township, cleared their first hurdle Thursday as they were approved by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) on the way to a likely floor vote, announced Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who sponsored each of the projects.

   Smith worked extensively with state and local officials to propose and insert prioritized local transportation projects into the INVEST in America Act, a federal surface transportation reauthorization bill. The bill must pass the full House and then be considered in the Senate.

   “Working with state and local officials, we carefully identified and reviewed these projects to address road safety hazards and ease travel for New Jersey drivers,” Smith said. “Both bridges would replace old spans that are structurally unsound and should have been replaced years ago. Route 33 and Route 35 are two of the heaviest-traveled state highways in my district and many travelers will continue to use these bridges for many years, making these roadway improvements necessary and reasonable investments.”

   Said Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, “Monmouth County is continually growing, which results in putting more strain on our aging infrastructure.  The Route 33 Bridge in Millstone Township and the Route 35 Bridge in Wall Township are both structures that are continually utilized by our growing number of residents and visitors,” said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “We pride ourselves on putting the safety of these residents and visitors at the forefront of our improvements much the same as Congressman Chris Smith. Therefore, we could not be more grateful to Congressman Smith for spearheading these much-needed improvements in Monmouth County.”

   In Monmouth County, Smith’s requests led to four projects added to the transportation bill:

• The Route 33 Bridge Over the Millstone River Project. Sponsored by New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the Route 33 Bridge Over the Millstone River replacement project will substitute a dangerous structure with a modern, safer span. The current bridge, built in 1926, has been deemed structurally deficient. The estimated cost of the project is $4,550,000, with 80 percent, or $3,640,000, covered by Smith’s request to the T&I Committee.
• The Route 35 Bridge Over the North Branch of Wreck Pond. NJDOT is the main sponsor of the Route 35 Bridge Over the North Branch of Wreck Pond replacement project. The current bridge which has been deemed structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, was constructed in 1931, and is used by thousands visiting the Jersey Shore.  The estimated project cost is $4,665,000, for which Smith successfully sought from the Committee the maximum 80 percent federal share, $3,736,000.
  
• The Koleda Park Improvement Project. Middletown Township, sponsor of the project, would convert a vacant lot into useful community space. The project includes a driveway for the adjacent elementary school to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety at a nearby intersection. A properly maintained, ADA-compliant parking lot on the site will reduce the need for visitors to park on neighborhood streets, offering better safety for those visiting the area for recreation at nearby recreational sites. Middletown has agreed to meet the 20 percent local sponsor match. Expected to cost $1,000,000, Smith requested the maximum 80 percent of the funding, or $800,000.
• The Freehold Borough Parking Improvement project. This project would help alleviate the limited parking facilities in the historic town, which is seat to the county government. It increases the number of parking spaces from 54 to 67, upgrading the heavily-used parking lot while also providing green space and reduced stormwater runoff. ADA-compliant curb ramps and crosswalks will be installed to allow increased accessibility. Parking will serve nearby county government service buildings, offices and small businesses such as restaurants. The local sponsor, the Borough of Freehold, is prepared to meet the 20 percent local match. Anticipated to cost $697,145, Smith requested the maximum funding of 80 percent, or $557,716.

  “Freehold Borough is the county seat of government, and many who have driven to Freehold know all too well about the limited parking. The parking project would improve access to local shops, eateries and offices,” Smith said.

   Smith said the Koleda Park Improvement Project will make for much safer parking and walking for the many people who visit the popular park.

   “The project would make the Koleda Park area much safer for the children and families who frequent the lake, ponds and other recreational sites,” Smith said. “It will give drivers—and their passengers—much safer options for off-street parking and walking to their destinations.”

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