Board hears updates on Dragon Run bridge, Harmony Grove signal and Route 3 roundabout study

Middlesex County public works staff briefed the Board on three transportation matters: a planned Dragon Run bridge replacement on Route 17, a recent signal timing change at the Harmony Grove intersection, and a proposed roundabout on Route 3 at Stamps Bay Road.

Mr. McKnight said the Dragon Run bridge replacement is scheduled to begin in 2026 with anticipated completion by December 2027 and an estimated cost of about $6,950,000. He described plans to increase the bridge width from approximately 23 feet to roughly 40 feet and to raise the new structure about 10 feet to match grade. McKnight said average daily traffic at that location is about 12,000 vehicles and noted eight impacts to the original bridge in the past three years as part of the justification for replacement.

On signal timing, McKnight reported a new configuration at Harmony Grove: "They did do another analysis and have removed the flashing yellow, from the hours of 7AM to 7PM based on the data. So it is a protected left turn going towards the Norris Bridge now, from those hours." He said staff will continue to monitor the intersection and make adjustments as needed.

On the Route 3/Stamps Bay Road roundabout, McKnight said the county applied for funding through the Smart Scale program in 2022, that preliminary engineering has begun and that an estimated $6.95 million is associated with the project estimate cited earlier; a design public hearing will be scheduled once enough design is complete and will likely be held close to the project site (staff suggested the Hartfield firehouse as a candidate venue).

No board vote was required on these informational updates. Staff identified right-of-way and property acquisition as potential future actions depending on design decisions.