Commission Adopts Flat Budget

Tenth Consecutive Year with NO TOLL INCREASE on Tacony-Palmyra & Burlington-Bristol Bridges

Burlington County Bridge Commissioners John Comegno, Priscilla Anderson, and Troy Singleton voted to adopt the Commission’s 2011 Annual Budget and Capital Budget Program, which was approved by the State of New Jersey, and includes no toll increase on its two toll bridges. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services made no changes to the Commission’s budget and approved the budget as submitted.

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“No toll increase and a flat budget are direct results of Commission administration and staff cutting costs and making sacrifices,” said Bridge Commission Chairman John Comegno, “all without compromising our commitment to safe bridges and providing direct property tax relief for our residents.”

Commissioner Troy E. Singleton added, “The Commission’s budget reflects not only an investment in our bridges, but also in the people that will make up the workforce maintaining these structures.”

The Commission’s $40.5 million dollar capital budget continues the Commission’s commitment to maintain the integrity and safety of its bridges, and includes the repair to the damaged fender on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, and the continuation of the Rancocas Creek Cleanup project, a shared service initiative between the Commission, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the municipalities of Lumberton, Southampton, and Medford.

“It’s no surprise to me that the Commission with the bridges known to be ‘the best bargain around’ is also making the most of its tollpayer dollars,” Comegno added.

The Burlington County Bridge Commission manages the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol Bridges, and through its economic development and improvement authority powers, assists Burlington County municipalities in economic development and community revitalization projects and extends pooled financing options to local governments and nonprofits in Burlington County. These initiatives have resulted in a savings of approximately $14 million dollars and more than $9 million dollars in grant monies for municipalities.

Come to Palmyra Cove Nature Park's Oktoberfest!

• Seining
• Wildlife Observation Hike
• Orienteering
• A visit by the Turtle Lady

Interested? Questions?
Contact Clara Ruvolo at (856) 829-1900, or cruvolo@bcbridges.org.

Replies (with checks made payable to "Palmyra Cove Education Foundation") due must be received by 9/25/10.

Bridge Commission Outlines $14 Million in Bridge Improvements

Pushes Forward on Capital Program

The Burlington County Bridge Commission is investing more than $14 million dollars this year in five maintenance projects to improve its landmark Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol Bridges. Commissioners John Comegno, Priscilla Anderson, and Troy Singleton provided an update on construction projects in progress that will incorporate smart technology, enhance security measures, and revitalize the Commission’s two movable spans.

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“We believe our bridge maintenance program is second to none,” said Comegno. “That’s because my fellow Commissioners and I are committed to providing safe and affordable passage over our bridges, and it’s a proactive, carefully designed plan of aggressive bridge inspection and maintenance that makes that happen. All with no toll increase.”

Four active construction projects are on the Burlington-Bristol Bridge:

• Bearing Replacement (replacing nearly 80-year-old steel rocker bearings with state-of-the-art neoprene bearings, under which load cells will be inserted; load cells will provide actual live readings of loading on piers)

• Operating Ropes Replacement (routine replacement of the 16 steel cables that lift the span during bridge openings and stretch under the weight of the bridge)

• Counterweight Rope Testing (testing the 64 counterweight ropes, which carry the counterweights that help balance the tremendous weight of the lift span and are lowered on each side of the bridge as the lift span raises)

• Cross Beam/Stringer Connections (proactively replacing welded connections with bolted connections on the primary support for the deck system on the New Jersey approach)

On the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, the grid deck is being replaced and gauges will be built into the deck to monitor movement of the bascule span during bridge openings.

“These projects are about more than steel and other materials,” said Commissioner Troy E. Singleton. “They’re about the 100 people who will be put to work as a result.”

The Commissioners also noted that a security and communications upgrade between the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol Bridges is slated to begin in the Fall. This will allow for more advanced video and data communications between the two bridges and provide highly sophisticated, three-dimensional models of the two spans from which engineers can monitor actual bridge conditions.

“I continue to be amazed, even impressed, by the constant improvements made to our bridges and facilities,” remarked Vice Chairwoman Anderson. “We are continually raising the standards of excellent bridge operations and maintenance.”

Projects currently in design include the Pompeston Creek Bridge replacement, Riverside-Delanco Bridge deck replacement, a new Commission maintenance facility in Burlington, as well as four projects on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge and four projects on the Burlington-Bristol Bridge.

The Commission also intends to replace the fenders surrounding piers of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, which were damaged seven years ago and were the focus of a multi-year court battle with Lloyd’s of London, which ultimately resulted in a $10.9 million reimbursement to the Commission.

“The investment we’re making in smart technology on our bridges will pay dividends in bridge renewal and preservation,” said Comegno. “It’s more than an interesting concept — it’s fiscally responsible.”