The Mercer County Freeholders approved plans for reconstruction of the bridge carrying Rabbit Hill Road over Big Bear Brook at its meeting on August 18. Construction is scheduled to begin early in September and be completed by December or January. During construction the detour route will be Rabbit Hill Road to Route 571, Route 571 to Southfield Road, Southfield to Cranbury Neck Road and then back to Rabbit Hill Road.
The existing bridge was built in 1963 and has a posted weight limit of 12 tons, which is low considering modern vehicle weight. After its last biannual inspection in May, 2009, the bridge was deemed structurally deficient.
The overall length of the new bridge will be approximately 35 feet 7 inches and will feature two 12-foot wide lanes, two 6-foot wide shoulders and a 6-foot wide sidewalk on one side.
The cost of the project will be $1,288,050.60 and it will be funded by state aid.
