Morris County Closes Gaston Road for Three-Month Bridge Replacement

Gaston Road in Morris Township will shut down to through traffic starting Monday. The County of Morris is replacing a bridge. This work will take three months.

The Gaston Bridge spans a tributary to the Whippany River just north of Jonathan Smith Road. The shutdown splits the roadway into two sections.

Residents living south of the construction site must reach their neighborhoods via Washington Valley Road. Those north of the work zone will use Sussex Turnpike instead.

A marked detour route will direct motorists traveling from the south end to Sussex Turnpike, but the path winds through several roads. Traffic will be redirected to Washington Valley Road, then Schoolhouse Lane, and finally Mount Pleasant Road, which connects to Sussex Turnpike about a mile west of the northern end.

The existing structure is a concrete slab span with stone masonry abutments and wingwalls that measures five feet in length. Officials said the structure is old. It has undergone multiple repairs over the years, yet the masonry keeps deteriorating, making a complete replacement the most practical and cost-effective approach.

According to Patch.com, the new structure will be a four-sided, precast design featuring stone-faced walls and a picket-style railing. CMS Construction, Inc. of Plainfield, New Jersey, is handling the project, valued at $641,487.

Construction is scheduled to begin on March 2. The contractor will work to restore access to the separated sections by early June.

The project location sits midway along the route. Both ends of the road face disruption. Local residents will need to plan extra time for their commutes during construction.

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