H&H is providing conceptual and preliminary design and engineering services as part of Phase I of the Brielle Drawbridge Replacement Project. The project will replace the existing single-track movable bridge that is more than a century old with a new two-track movable bridge to improve flood resiliency and maritime operations while restoring two-track capacity to this critical rail infrastructure connecting the towns of Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach on NJ TRANSIT’s North Jersey Coast Line.
Previously, H&H conducted a feasibility study and prepared the concept development report for the project. For the study, a comprehensive analysis of various track profiles and movable bridge alternatives, including vertical lift and bascule span options (Rolling Lift and Trunnion-Style), was completed. Each profile alternative and movable span option has been analyzed with regard to the environmental impacts, flood resiliency, navigational clearances, constructability, maintenance issues, construction cost, and visual impact. A combined score was determined to rank the alternatives and provide the most efficient solutions for further consideration during the NEPA process and preliminary/final design.
The Brielle Bridge, built in 1911, has a total length of 1,162 feet and carries one track of NJ TRANSIT’s North Jersey Coast Line between Brielle and Shark Interlockings. This Scherzer rolling-lift bascule span carries approximately 40 trains per day.
