Fixing infrastructure, creating jobs

Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced a $2.8 billion plan for transportation projects that he views as “supporting or creating an estimated 26,000 jobs.”

“If we are going to provide relief from the national recession, we need to keep New Jerseyans working and keep local economies strong,” Gov. Corzine said. “We need boots on the ground. We need shovels in the dirt. These are the projects we need to get under way to help bridge the recession while providing the long-term benefits of an improved transportation infrastructure.”

Some of the projects — like the Alexander Road Bridge in West Windsor — are near completion, while others have yet to start. But all are part of an attempted “acceleration of previously-planned public works projects” that the governor considers “a key component” of his “economic stimulus and recovery initiative.”

All department heads, particularly the commissioners and directors of the Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, Toll Authorities, Schools Development Authority, Board of Public Utilities, and the Department of Environmental Protection have been instructed to expedite projects currently on the drawing board, as to create and preserve New Jersey jobs in the midst of the current national recession.

According to the Department of Transportation, the $2.8 billion will be spent over the next year, with about $1 billion going toward “projects which were previously unfunded” or “projects that have been accelerated.”

These projects are expected to create or support 26,000 jobs directly, but up to 45,000 positions when indirect jobs by suppliers and induced jobs from economic activity is considered.

The governor says that an additional “$1.2 billion in transportation projects have been identified, and will be funded if federal economic stimulus assistance becomes available.”

Local projects include:

• Alexander Road Bridge in West Windsor — $3.3 million of the $20.84 million to be spent in 2009
• Rt 1 Millstone River Bridge Replacement in West Windsor — $21.72 million of $25.32 million in 2009
• Replacement of culvert under Rt 1, Bridge over Heathcote Brook in South Brunswick — $1.19 million of $4.25 million in 2009
• Rt 206 Bypass between the Old Somerville Rd and Mountain View Rd intersections in Hillsborough — $1.5 million of $173.59 million in 2009
• Rt 33 Conrail Bridge in Robbinsville — $10.50 million of $14.74 million in 2009
• Widening of Schalks Crossing Road Bridge over Northeast Corridor line and Devil’s Brook to provide sidewalks — $400,000 of $6.40 million in 2009

Projects in Planning

• Rt 1 Bottleneck Relief in South Brunswick — the project is designed to “relieve an existing bottle-neck” on a “stretch of the roadway (that) currently accommodates only two travel lanes in each direction. Sections of Rt 1 both north and south carry three lanes of travel.” Project is estimated to cost $400 million. The DOT plans to spend $800,000 in 2009.
• Safety improvements on Rt 1 southbound from Nassau Park Blvd to I-95 — project estimated to cost $12.40 million, with $40,000 to be spent in 2009.
  Drainage improvements on Rt 1 in South Brunswick (Ridge and Raymond roads jughandled included) — project expected to cost $8.30 million, with $15,000 to be spent in 2009
• Culvert replacement at Rt 130/Crystal Lake Dam in Bordentown Township — total cost estimated at $5.20 million with $30,000 to be spent in 2009.
• Rt 206/Ewing St Safety Improvements in Princeton — project expected to cost $4 million, with $50,000 to be spent in 2009.
• Rt 206, Hillsborough-Montgomery Gateway — expected to cost $2.5 million, with $15,000 to be spent in 2009
• Rt 295/Rooute 1 intersection — project expected to cost $2.1, with $40,000 to be spent in 2009
• Rt 31 Pennington Circle Safety Improvements — project expected to cost $13.5 million, with $30,000 to be spent in 2009.