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Politics & Government

County to Give OK to Projects in Toms River, Brick, LBI

Toms River project to ease congestion; Brick project will upgrade Mantoloking Bridge fenders

The county's freeholder board is expected to give its OK to various projects in the area.

A Bloomfield company is being hired to widen Church Road at North Bay Avenue in Toms River to ease congestion before the Garden State Parkway overpass is widened to allow the busy county road to be widened to three lanes beyond the toll road.

Ocean County Engineer Frank Scarantino recommended the contract go to J.C. Contracting Inc. for its low bid of $391,183.

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The engineer said its price was five percent lower than the estimated cost of the project. Congestion at the intersection is expected to increase once a third entrance to Ocean County College opens off North Bay Avenue, he explained.

The county’s freeholders are expected to award the contract when they meet at 4 p.m. next Wednesday at 101 Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

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At the same time R.A. Walters and Son Inc., of Cape May Court House, is scheduled to receive a $256,400 contract to upgrade the fenders protecting boats and supports for the Mantoloking Bridge linking Brick Township with Mantoloking borough. Scarantino said the work was “rescoped,’’ after earlier bids topping $600,000 were received and rejected because of the cost.

Additionally, advertising is expected to be approved Wednesday for the replacement of the 30-foot timber Brook Road Bridge over the north branch of the Metedeconk River in Lakewood with a modern span 56-feet long. That will allow more water to run under the bridge, one of those flooded by Hurricane Irene.

At the same time, Earle Asphalt Company, of Farmingdale, is in line for a $216,413 contract to repair collapsed storm drains on Long Beach Blvd. in Long Beach Township. Scarantino said the contractor who had been doing the work is “gone,’’ and the work has to be completed.

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