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Cape May bridge design advances as county pursues $25M BUILD grant and other federal funding
Summary
County staff said design work continues on a proposed Cape May bridge and that they have applied for a $25 million BUILD grant and about $3 million through a bipartisan infrastructure program; officials said final timing depends on funding and coordination with utilities and federal reviewers.
Vice Chairman Ashman and county transportation staff updated the Cape May County Planning Board on plans for a major replacement of the Cape May bridge and the countys efforts to secure federal funding.
The county is advancing preliminary engineering and design but officials said construction timing remains uncertain pending funding. Mr. Church, a county staff member speaking for Transportation, said the design team is considering steel main spans to allow greater pier spacing and to keep structural elements above the splash zone; the choice reflects concerns about conflicts with an LTMUA force main that may require relocation or replacement if the roadway is raised.
The board was told the county has submitted an application for a federal BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant seeking $25 million and is pursuing a remaining round of a bipartisan infrastructure grant program for roughly $3 million. Mr. Church said the bipartisan program is in its last year and that the county sees its large bridge project as a competitive candidate, noting that the projects total cost exceeds the scale of those smaller grants. Commissioner Bulakowski noted rising costs and referenced outreach by Congressman Van Drew in support of the project.
Why it matters: the Cape May bridge is a large multi-year undertaking with regional traffic and marine navigation implications. Staff said the earliest the project could be advertised for contract is roughly four years if funding and approvals align; the county emphasized that schedules depend on who ultimately pays for construction.
Supporting details: staff said the consultants local concept development work remains on schedule to finish preliminary engineering (PE) and that the county is still vetting whether the main spans should be concrete or steel. A critical issue is how to accommodate the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority (LTMUA) force main, which may need relocation if the county raises the road five feet as part of the design. Mr. Church said the county is not obligated to pay for the utility relocation and that the choice of span material and pier spacing is being evaluated in that light.
The board did not take formal action on the bridge at the meeting. The next steps identified by staff include continuing design work, pursuing federal grants, and coordinating with utility owners and federal permitting authorities.
The Planning Board adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
