Route 206 Bridge over Branch of Pequest River

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Scroll through the site or click on the navigation bar up top to learn more about the Route 206 Bridge over Branch of Pequest River Project. 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is committed to developing transportation improvements that best balance transportation needs, the environment, community concerns, and costs. The NJDOT will be holding a Virtual Public Information Center to provide local residents, businesses, and roadway users with information on the Route 206 Bridge over Branch of Pequest River Project that plans to replace an existing two-cell culvert below Route 206 within a tunnel that passes through a railroad embankment. You are encouraged to actively participate by reviewing the meeting materials and providing comments by mail or e-mail, or by using the website’s comment form.

Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Public Information Center will be held virtually by posting content to this project website. Please view the meeting flyer and other meeting materials below. Comments will be accepted through October 10, 2021.

The Route 206 roadway passes through a tunnel within the railroad embankment at the south end of Andover Borough. The 33'-0" wide two-lane roadway is supported by a bridge over the Branch of Pequest River within the tunnel.  The bridge is a 335-foot long two-cell culvert that was integrally constructed with a tunnel in 1910 to support the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad’s New Jersey Cutoff Pequest Fill. The 111-year-old bridge is structurally deficient due to the poor condition of the roof slab and center wall and needs to be replaced. The roadway also has substandard shoulders and vertical clearance as it passes through the tunnel.

NJDOT proposes to replace the Route 206 bridge with a new structure that will be independent of the existing tunnel. The layout of the new bridge will be similar to the existing condition. However, the replacement bridge will be a two-cell precast concrete box culvert type structure. 

Route 206 will be realigned and the minimum vertical clearance in the tunnel will be improved. Sidewalks will be constructed within the tunnel to provide pedestrians with a means to walk through the tunnel. The existing guide rail will be upgraded and reinstalled at the corners of the tunnel. Access to the adjacent residential properties will be maintained throughout construction.

A detour of Route 206 will be required for the bridge replacement and tunnel rehabilitation. During this period, Route 206 local traffic will be routed via Lenape Road, Andover Mohawk Road, Roseville Road and Tamarack Road. Traffic from I-80 will be re-routed from Exit 25 to Exit 19 and take CR 517, CR 603, CR 606, and Brighton Avenue/High Street to US Route 206.

While the bridge is being replaced, the tunnel will also be rehabilitated. Repairs can be made to the tunnel and its associated retaining walls while the road is closed to traffic and a contractor is onsite.  

 FAQs 

 Project Handout - English 

 Project Handout - Spanish