Burlington County will be making repairs to Jackson Road Bridge (No. D5.126) over Birchwood Lake starting next month, according to the Burlington County Engineer’s Office. Work is anticipated to take several months to complete.
Although the Burlington County Engineer’s Office completed the bridge design for the repairs earlier this year, work could not commence until the major utility lines were relocated and several environmental permits needed to lower the lake were obtained. Construction materials were also difficult to procure.
“A lot of hurdles had to be cleared for these repairs to get underway, but we’ve managed to overcome those challenges and are relieved to be able to get started,” Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion, the Board’s liaison to the Department of Public Works. “We are hopeful that reconstruction will go smoothly and we will be able to get this bridge reopened soon.”
The bridge was closed in November after an inspection revealed unsafe conditions to its wood structure. The bridge load was immediately reduced to a 6-ton maximum to keep the span open to passenger vehicles, but non-compliance prompted the Engineer’s Office to order the bridge closed indefinitely until repairs are made.
The bridge previously underwent significant repairs in 2004 following damages from a July flood.
