NJ Transit Clinton & Plainfield Avenue Bridges

NJ Transit undertook the initiative to replace/repair several of their bridges on the Raritan Valley Line. The Clinton & Plainfield Avenue railroad bridges were in close proximity to each other and similar in scope. IEW Construction undertook these two bridges under the same contract. Like the other NJ Transit Bridges IEW did at this time, these bridges were a multi-phased project requiring a contractor experienced and skilled in the intricacies of the work entailed. A soldier pile sheeting system was driven to support demolition activities. The existing bridge was remediated for lead, and then taken apart and removed in phases as a temporary bridge was built so that there were no disturbances in the train schedule. The Clinton & Plainfield Avenue railroad bridges are eligible for listing on the state and national registers of historic places as a contributing resource to the Central Railroad of New Jersey Main Line Historic District. Due to the historic nature of the project, the steel and masonry work were preserved to the maximum extent possible. Steel and fasteners were fabricated and installed in accordance with the historic defining characteristics. Structural concrete in parts of the abutment was cast in place to replace deteriorating masonry, and the large stone masonry wingwalls were repaired and repointed.