Allentown bridge repairs could mean more busing
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN - Borough students who walk to school may need another way to get there come January.

Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick reported to the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education Sept. 19 that the Main Street bridge, which many borough students use to get to school, will close Jan. 1 for repairs. He said the bridge is expected to close for about 600 days.

Board member William Borkowski said Monmouth County has already gone out to bid for the bridge reconstruction project and has told some Allentown merchants that they have to vacate by Jan. 1. The county may put a temporary walking bridge in the area, according to Borkowski.

Fitzpatrick said he hates to be a skeptic but told the board not to count on the walking bridge. He urged the board to try to start planning to make accommodations for students who use the bridge and may need to be bused to school on an alternative route.

"I don't know how they expect to construct a walking bridge between now and January," Fitzpatrick said.

He said that Breza Road, which is not paved in some places, could be used as an alternative access route.

"We're supposed to expect modifications and resurfacing of Breza Road in October, November or December, but don't [expect it]," he told the board. "We need to plan and make a recommendation for transporting these students."

Fitzpatrick said one of the biggest uncertainties with planning transportation at this point - if busing is the only answer to the problem - is how to keep students on the buses for the least amount of time possible.

"If Breza Road is not an option, Sharon Station Road is our other option," he said. "With that route, parents won't approve of the length of time their kids are on a bus."

Board member Chris Shaw also said the board has to look at how many students will be affected and if it has buses available for those students.